Data binding deals with how to bind your data from component to HTML DOM elements (Templates). We can easily interact with application without worrying about how to insert your data. We can make connections in two different ways one way and two-way binding.

Before moving to this topic, let’s create a component in Angular 8.

Open command prompt and create new Angular application using below command −

cd /go/to/workspace 
ng new databind-app 
cd databind-app

Create a test component using Angular CLI as mentioned below −

ng generate component test

The above create a new component and the output is as follows −

CREATE src/app/test/test.component.scss (0 bytes) CREATE src/app/test/test.component.html (19 bytes) CREATE src/app/test/test.component.spec.ts (614 bytes) 
CREATE src/app/test/test.component.ts (262 bytes) UPDATE src/app/app.module.ts (545 bytes)

Run the application using below command −

ng serve

One-way data binding

One-way data binding is a one-way interaction between component and its template. If you perform any changes in your component, then it will reflect the HTML elements. It supports the following types −

String interpolation

In general, String interpolation is the process of formatting or manipulating strings. In Angular, Interpolation is used to display data from component to view (DOM). It is denoted by the expression of {{ }} and also known as mustache syntax.

Let’s create a simple string property in component and bind the data to view.

Add the below code in test.component.ts file as follows −

export class TestComponent implements OnInit { 
   appName = "My first app in Angular 8"; 
}

Move to test.component.html file and add the below code −

<h1>{{appName}}</h1>

Add the test component in your app.component.html file by replacing the existing content as follows −

<app-test></app-test>

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

You could see the following output on your screen −

Event binding

Events are actions like mouse click, double click, hover or any keyboard and mouse actions. If a user interacts with an application and performs some actions, then event will be raised. It is denoted by either parenthesis () or on-. We have different ways to bind an event to DOM element. Let’s understand one by one in brief.

Component to view binding

Let’s understand how simple button click even handling works.

Add the following code in test.component.tsfile as follows −

export class TestComponent { 
   showData($event: any){ 
      console.log("button is clicked!"); if($event) { 
         console.log($event.target); 
         console.log($event.target.value); 
      } 
   } 
}

$eventast:refersthefiredeventcdot:Inthisscenario:,ast:click ast:istheeventcdotast$event has all the information about event and the target element. Here, the target is button. $event.target property will have the target information.

We have two approaches to call the component method to view (test.component.html). First one is defined below −

<h2>Event Binding</h2> 
<button (click)="showData($event)">Click here</button>

Alternatively, you can use prefix – on using canonical form as shown below −

<button on-click = "showData()">Click here</button>

Here, we have not used $event as it is optional.

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

Now, run your application and you could see the below response −

Here, when the user clicks on the button, event binding understands to button click action and call component showData() method so we can conclude it is one-way binding.

Property binding

Property binding is used to bind the data from property of a component to DOM elements. It is denoted by [].

Let’s understand with a simple example.

Add the below code in test.component.ts file.

export class TestComponent { 
   userName:string = "Peter"; 
}

Add the below changes in view test.component.html,

<input type="text" [value]="userName">

Here,

userName property is bind to an attribute of a DOM element <input> tag.

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

Attribute binding

Attribute binding is used to bind the data from component to HTML attributes. The syntax is as follows −

<HTMLTag [attr.ATTR]="Component data">

For example,

<td [attr.colspan]="columnSpan"> ... </td>

Let’s understand with a simple example.

Add the below code in test.component.ts file.

export class TestComponent { 
   userName:string = "Peter"; 
}

Add the below changes in view test.component.html,

<input type="text" [value]="userName">

Here,

userName property is bind to an attribute of a DOM element <input> tag.

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

Class binding

Class binding is used to bind the data from component to HTML class property. The syntax is as follows −

<HTMLTag [class]="component variable holding class name">

Class Binding provides additional functionality. If the component data is boolean, then the class will bind only when it is true. Multiple class can be provided by string (“foo bar”) as well as Array of string. Many more options are available.

For example,

<p [class]="myClasses">

Let’s understand with a simple example.

Add the below code in test.component.ts file,

export class TestComponent { 
   myCSSClass = "red"; 
   applyCSSClass = false; 
}

Add the below changes in view test.component.html.

<p [class]="myCSSClass">This paragraph class comes from *myClass* property </p> 
<p [class.blue]="applyCSSClass">This paragraph class does not apply</p>

Add the below content in test.component.css.

.red { 
   color: red; 
} 
.blue { 
   color: blue; 
}

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

The final output will be as shown below −

Style binding

Style binding is used to bind the data from component into HTML style property. The syntax is as follows −

<HTMLTag [style.STYLE]="component data">

For example,

<p [style.color]="myParaColor"> ... </p>

Let’s understand with a simple example.

Add the below code in test.component.ts file.

myColor = ''brown'';

Add the below changes in view test.component.html.

<p [style.color]="myColor">Text color is styled using style binding</p>

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

The final output will be as shown below −

Two-way data binding

Two-way data binding is a two-way interaction, data flows in both ways (from component to views and views to component). Simple example is ngModel. If you do any changes in your property (or model) then, it reflects in your view and vice versa. It is the combination of property and event binding.

NgModel

NgModel is a standalone directive. ngModel directive binds form control to property and property to form control. The syntax of ngModel is as follows −

<HTML [(ngModel)]="model.name" />

For example,

<input type="text" [(ngModel)]="model.name" />

Let’s try to use ngModel in our test application.

Configure FormsModule in AppModule (src/app/app.module.ts)

import { FormsModule } from ''@angular/forms''; @NgModule({ 
   imports: [ 
      BrowserModule, 
      FormsModule
   ] 
}) 
export class AppModule { }

FormModule do the necessary setup to enable two-way data binding.

Update TestComponent view (test.component.html) as mentioned below −

<input type="text" [(ngModel)]="userName" />
<p>Two way binding! Hello {{ userName }}!</p>

Here,

Property is bind to form control ngModeldirective and if you enter any text in the textbox, it will bind to the property. After running your application, you could see the below changes −

Finally, start your application (if not done already) using the below command −

ng serve

Now, run your application and you could see the below response −

Now, try to change the input value to Jack. As you type, the text below the input gets changed and the final output will be as shown below −

We will learn more about form controls in the upcoming chapters.

Working example

Let us implement all the concept learned in this chapter in our ExpenseManager application.

Open command prompt and go to project root folder.

cd /go/to/expense-manager

Create ExpenseEntry interface (src/app/expense-entry.ts) and add id, amount, category, Location, spendOn and createdOn.

export interface ExpenseEntry { 
   id: number; 
   item: string; 
   amount: number; 
   category: string; 
   location: string; 
   spendOn: Date; 
   createdOn: Date; 
}

Import ExpenseEntry into ExpenseEntryComponent.

import { ExpenseEntry } from ''../expense-entry'';

Create a ExpenseEntry object, expenseEntry as shown below −

export class ExpenseEntryComponent implements OnInit { 
   title: string; 
   expenseEntry: ExpenseEntry; 
   constructor() { } 
   ngOnInit() { 
      this.title = "Expense Entry"; 
      this.expenseEntry = { 
         id: 1, 
         item: "Pizza", 
         amount: 21, 
         category: "Food", 
         location: "Zomato", 
         spendOn: new Date(2020, 6, 1, 10, 10, 10), createdOn: new Date(2020, 6, 1, 10, 10, 10), 
      }; 
   } 
}

Update the component template using expenseEntry object, src/app/expense-entry/expense-entry.component.html as specified below −

<!-- Page Content --> 
<div class="container">
   <div class="row"> 
      <div class="col-lg-12 text-center" style="padding-top: 20px;"> 
         <div class="container" style="padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"> 
            <div class="row"> 
               <div class="col-sm" style="text-align: left;"> 
                  {{ title }} 
               </div> 
               <div class="col-sm" style="text-align: right;"> 
                  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Edit</button> 
               </div> 
            </div> 
         </div> 
         <div class="container box" style="margin-top: 10px;"> 
            <div class="row"> 
               <div class="col-2" style="text-align: right;">  
                  <strong><em>Item:</em></strong> 
               </div> 
               <div class="col" style="text-align: left;"> 
                  {{ expenseEntry.item }} 
               </div> 
            </div> 
            <div class="row"> 
               <div class="col-2" style="text-align: right;"> 
                  <strong><em>Amount:</em></strong> 
               </div> 
               <div class="col" style="text-align: left;">
                  {{ expenseEntry.amount }} 
               </div> 
            </div> 
            <div class="row"> 
               <div class="col-2" style="text-align: right;"> 
                  <strong><em>Category:</em></strong> 
               </div> 
               <div class="col" style="text-align: left;"> 
                  {{ expenseEntry.category }} 
               </div> 
            </div> 
            <div class="row"> 
               <div class="col-2" style="text-align: right;"> 
                  <strong><em>Location:</em></strong> 
               </div> 
               <div class="col" style="text-align: left;"> 
                  {{ expenseEntry.location }} 
               </div> 
            </div> 
            <div class="row"> 
               <div class="col-2" style="text-align: right;">
                  <strong><em>Spend On:</em></strong>
               </div> 
               <div class="col" style="text-align: left;"> 
                  {{ expenseEntry.spendOn }} 
               </div> 
            </div> 
         </div> 
      </div> 
   </div> 
</div>