An in depth talk about Angular modules

1. Angular
Christoffer Noring
Google Developer Expert
Frontend Developer OVO Energy
@chris_noring
modules

2. Helps organize an application into cohesive blocks of functi
Decorates class with @NgModule
Angular libs that are modules
FormsModule, HttpModule, RouterModule
Third party libs
Material Design, AngularFire, Ionic
Can be lazy loaded
Can be eagerly loaded

3. angular.module(‘app’,[
])
Declare module
Declare constructs
belonging to said module
.controller()
.directive()
.value()
.provider()
Declare dependant modules‘dep1’,
‘dep2’
Angular 1

4. Service - singleton
We care about state
export class Service {
getData(){
}
}
@injectable()
Declare
import { Service } from ‘services/service’;
export class SomeComponent{
constructor(
private srv:Service,
private other:OtherService){
}
doStuff(){
var data = this.srv.getData();
}
Consume
Don’t forget
@injectable
keyword
Inject as usual
Use

5. @NgModule({
imports : [ BrowserModule ],
declarations : [
AppComponent,
SomeComponent,
SomePipe,
SomeDirective
]
bootstrap : [ AppComponent ],
providers : [ serviceForThisModule ],
entryComponents : []
})
export class AppModule{
}
A2 - Module anatomy
Dependant modules
Constructs the
module consist of
Entry point of the app
Injectable services

6. Angular Modules
CommonModule
ngIf
ngFor
imports and reexports
BrowserModule FormsModule
Directives and Components
supporting template driven forms
ngModel

7. Root Module
A module to launch the app
@NgModule({
imports : [
BrowserModule,
FeatureModule,
CommonModule
],
declarations : [
AppComponent,
SomeComponent,
SomePipe,
SomeDirective
]
bootstrap : [ AppComponent ],
providers : [ serviceForThisModule ]
})
export class AppModule{
}
All other modules
your app consist of
is listed in the imports :[]
The entry component
is pointed out
in the bootstrap : []

8. Bootstrapping
With JIT
With AOT
import { platformBrowserDynamic } from '@angular/platform-browser-dynamic';
import { AppModule } from './app.module';
import { platformBrowserDynamic } from '@angular/platform-browser-dynamic';
import { AppModuleNgFactory } from ‘./app.module.ngfactory';
platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(AppModuleNgFactory);
platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(AppModule);
Root module

9. Feature Module
@NgModule({
imports : [
FormsModule,
CommonModule
],
declarations : [
FeatureComponent,
SomeOtherComponent,
FeaturePipe,
FeatureDirective
]
exports : [ CommonComponent ],
providers : [ serviceForThisModule ]
})
export class FeatureModule{
}
Dependant modules
Component/constructs
the module consists of
Publicly usable constructs
A module to extend the app

10. Import
Allows us to use constructs from other modules such as
Directives
Pipes
Components
But only that which is public
imports : [ SomeModule ],
exports : [
FeatureComponent
]
FeatureModuleSomeModule
imports : [ ],
exports : [
SomeComponent,
SomeDirective
] Can be used in
FeatureComponent markup

11. Exporting
A normal feature module would only export the top component
ProductDetailComponentProductAdvertisementComponent
This would not be exported
as they are helper components
ProductListComponent This would be exported
exports : [
ProductListComponent,
]

12. Re export
Reexport is making constructs from other modules available
imports : [ ],
exports : [
SomeModule,
FeatureComponent
]
FeatureModule
make public SomeModule constructs available
for importers of FeatureModule
Example from angular BrowserModule reexports CommonModule, App
SomeModule
imports : [ ],
exports : [
SomeComponent,
SomeDirective
]
public
ParentModule
imports

13. When not to re-export
Module
Service1 Service2 Service3
is no construct such as directive, pipes or components but only s
example HttpModule

14. SharedModule
what to export
HelperComponent
CommonComponent CommonDirective
MoneyPipe FilteringPipe
Most constructs would likely be exported
exports : [
CommonComponent,
CommonDirective,
MoneyPipe,
FilteringPipe
]
Majority is exported, minority not exported

15. App architecture
AppModule
CoreModuleContactsModule ProductsModule CommonModule
Feature modules
FormsModule BrowserModule RouterModule
Angular core modules

16. Core Module
For application wide services,
places them in a core module
This ensures they are singletons
@NgModule({
imports : [
…
],
declarations : [
CoreComponent..
]
exports : [ CommonComponent ],
providers : [
applicationWideService,
applicationWideService2
]
})
export class CoreModule{
CoreModule
Services
Import only from AppModule
@NgModule({
imports : [
CoreModule
],
declarations : [
AppComponent
]
bootstrap : [ AppComponent ],
providers : [
]
})
export class AppModule{
}
AppModule

17. Providers
Application scoped by design
A certain service can be injected
in any construct
Providers listed in @NgModule.providers have application scope
When a module is imported the modules providers list is added root injec
@NgModule({
imports : [
SomeModule
],
declarations : [
SomeComponent
]
exports : [ SomeComponent ],
providers : [
service1, service2, service3
]
})
export class SomeModule{
}
root
injector

18. Word of caution
Import modules with providers only once
Provide the service in a component if component needs its
own copy, but generally add it to the module’s providers
Try to lazy load modules as much as possible,
they get their own injector
aka providers overridden by mistake
App-wide providers should be added to AppModule
not AppComponent if you have lazy loaded modules
Import HttpModule only in AppModule to avoid provider corruption
SomeModule
HttpModule
OtherModule
HttpModule
providers providers
configuration done
in one provider might be lost

19. Lazy load
app.routing.ts
const routes: Routes = [
{ path: '', redirectTo: '/home', pathMatch: 'full',
{ path: 'about', loadChildren: './+about/about.module#AboutModule' }
];
#AboutModule Name of module
+ Naming convention of lazy loaded modules
./+about/about.routing.ts
const routes: Routes = [
{ path: '', component: AboutComponent },
];
File Module class

20. Don’t place services in a
shared module,
there would be one instance
per lazy loaded module
different
instances
Feature
Module
Shared
Module
lazy
loaded
Service1:instance1
imports
Feature
Module
Shared
Module
lazy
loaded
Service1:instance2
imports
constructor(service1:Service1) {
}
Shared
Module
Service1 Service2 Service3

21. Prevent reimport of core
module
CoreModule
constructor (@Optional() @SkipSelf() parentModule: CoreModule) {
if (parentModule) {
throw new Error(
'CoreModule is already loaded. Import it in the AppModule only');
}
}
Throw error if someone
but root module imports me
Don’t let my own injector instantiate me
AppModule
CoreModule
imports
FeatureModule
CoreModule
imports

22. Refactor
Lets take an existing app and divide in suitable modules
Looks like feature component
Looks like feature service
Looks like an application wide service
Lets refactor
Looks like a reusable construct
@NgModule({
imports : [
BrowserModule
],
declarations : [
AppComponent,
AboutComponent,
MoneyPipe
]
bootstrap : [ AppComponent ],
providers : [
AboutService,
AuthService
]
})
AppModule

23. @NgModule({
imports : [
AboutModule,
CoreModule
],
declarations : [
AppComponent,
]
bootstrap : [ AppComponent ],
providers : [
]
})
AppModule
@NgModule({
imports : [
SharedModule
],
declarations : [
AboutComponent,
]
bootstrap : [ AppComponent ],
providers : [
AboutService
]
})
AboutModule
AboutModule (Feature)
AboutComponent
AboutService
1
SharedModule
MoneyPipe2
CoreModule
AuthService3
4
5
imports BrowserModule 5

24. Summary
Components, Directives and Pipes
are module scoped
Unless exported with exports keyword
Services listed in module providers is application wide
Divide up your app in suitable modules
Only have application wide services in a core module
that is imported by the AppModule
Have shared constructs in shared modules but don't have providers in there on mo
Modules can make its constructs public by exposing it under exports keyword
Only the root module has the bootstrap keyword

25. Thank you
@chris_noring