Angular compiles templates
Keep in mind, Angular's template syntax is precompiled. This means that the syntax is transformed during compilation without actively checking the DOM for Angular expressions. The goal of Angular is to separate your code from the DOM, allowing for better organization and management.
For example, adding a (click) event to an element is not valid HTML syntax. However, when this binding is added to an Angular template, compiled, and viewed through DevTools, the outputted HTML won't contain the (click) attribute anymore. Instead, Angular recognizes this syntax, removes it from the HTML, and sets up an onclick handler behind the scenes. This behavior is managed internally by Angular, ensuring that the logic remains intact even after compilation as a component.
Working with Raw HTML
While Angular excels at handling template syntax, working with raw HTML can be trickier within the Angular framework. Ideally, raw HTML should not be parsed at all, but if necessary, there are alternatives available.
Instead of directly manipulating the DOM using vanilla JavaScript methods, it is recommended to utilize Angular's API. For instance:
<app-link-comm [comm]="comm"></app-link-comm>
In this scenario, app-link-comm is a component defined as:
@Component({
selector: 'app-link-comm',
template: '<p [innerHTML]="comm.Communication"></p>',
styles: {some-style: stylish}
})
export class LinkCommComponent implements AfterViewInit {
@Input('comm') comm;
constructor(public render: Renderer2, public router: Router) {}
ngAfterViewInit() {
let footer = this.renderer.selectRootElement('footer');
// Attach Angular-aware behavior
this.renderer.listen(footer, 'click', (event: Event) => {
this.router.navigate(`#commID_${this.comm.CommunicationId}`);
}
// Example of appending a child element
let a = document.createElement('a');
a.href = `#commID_${this.comm.CommunicationId}`;
this.renderer.appendChild(footer, a);
}
}
The Renderer2 service handles differences in browser APIs and allows for managing elements through Angular's NgZone.
Another Approach:
If you need to append an anchor element to the footer with an href, consider using directives, pipes, or dynamically rendered components. This provides a cleaner solution compared to manually parsing raw HTML. By utilizing the [innerHTML] binding, Angular can sanitize inputs and manage DOM operations efficiently.
Since this component operates independently, localized behaviors can be encapsulated within it.
It's important to note that attaching directives to raw HTML is not feasible in Angular unless the directive is known before compile time. In such cases, creating a host component/element with the directive applied and binding appropriate HTML elements to that container would be the recommended approach.