Understanding Angular Versions and Using CLI to Check Them

Introduction

Angular is a popular framework for building dynamic web applications. It’s essential for developers to know which version of Angular they are working with, as different versions have varying features and functionalities. This tutorial will guide you through understanding the Angular framework’s versioning system and how to use various methods to determine the Angular version in your projects.

Understanding Angular Versioning

Angular follows semantic versioning (SemVer), where version numbers consist of three parts: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. Here’s what each part signifies:

MAJOR: Incremented for incompatible API changes.
MINOR: Incremented for adding functionality in a backward-compatible manner.
PATCH: Incremented for backward-compatible bug fixes.

Angular CLI (Command Line Interface) is the toolset that allows developers to scaffold, build, test, and maintain Angular applications. The version of Angular CLI installed might differ from the Angular framework version used within a project. Therefore, knowing both versions in your environment is crucial.

Checking Angular Version Using Angular CLI

One of the most straightforward methods for checking an Angular application’s version is by using Angular CLI commands. Below are detailed steps and examples:

1. Using `ng version` or Variants

After setting up a new Angular project with the command ng new myapp, you can check its framework version using the following commands in your terminal:

ng version
ng --version
ng -v

These commands provide detailed information about the installed Angular packages and their versions. Here’s an example output for clarity:

@angular/cli: 1.6.5
node: 8.0.0
os: linux x64

Angular:
...
@angular/common: 4.3.0
@angular/compiler: 4.3.0
@angular/core: 4.3.0
@angular/forms: 4.3.0
@angular/http: 4.3.0
@angular/platform-browser: 4.3.0
@angular/platform-browser-dynamic: 4.3.0
@angular/router: 4.3.0

This output lists the Angular core framework packages, helping you identify which major version your application is using.

2. Using `ng v`

For a concise display of your Angular environment details, use:

ng v

This command provides similar information to ng version, focusing on brevity and speed for quick checks.

Alternative Methods

1. Inspecting `package.json`

Every Angular project contains a package.json file that lists dependencies and their respective versions. To find the Angular framework version, search for entries like "@angular/core", "@angular/common", etc., within this file:

{
  "dependencies": {
    "@angular/core": "^4.3.0",
    "@angular/common": "^4.3.0"
  }
}

This method is particularly useful when you need to review all dependencies at once.

2. Using Browser Developer Tools

For Angular applications running in a browser, you can check the version by opening the developer tools (usually accessible with F12 or right-click > Inspect), navigating to the Console tab, and typing:

angular.version for AngularJS 1.x/2.x
ng.version.full for Angular 4+

These commands output an object containing detailed version information directly in your browser.

Best Practices

Consistency: Ensure that all team members use standardized methods to check the Angular version, avoiding discrepancies in environment setups.
Documentation: Document the specific versions of Angular and other dependencies used in a project. This practice helps during upgrades or when onboarding new developers.
Regular Updates: Stay updated with the latest Angular releases for security patches and new features. Use ng update to migrate your application to newer versions.

Conclusion

Understanding how to check and manage Angular versions is crucial for maintaining compatibility, leveraging new features, and ensuring efficient project management. Whether using CLI commands or inspecting project files, developers can ensure they are working with the correct framework version, facilitating smoother development workflows.