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Explain AngularJS $watch(), $digest() and $apply()


$watch() 


The $scope.watch() function is used to observe changes in a variable on the $scope. It accepts three parameters: expression, listener and equality object where listener and equality object are optional parameters.

<html>
<head>
 <title>AngularJS Watch</title>
 <script src="lib/angular.js"></script>
 <script>
 var myapp = angular.module("myapp", []);
 var myController = myapp.controller("myController", function ($scope) {
      $scope.name = 'nikssangani.blogspot.in';
      $scope.counter = 0;
      $scope.$watch('name', function (newValue, oldValue) {
         $scope.counter = $scope.counter + 1;
      });
 });
 </script>
</head>
<body ng-app="myapp" ng-controller="myController">
 <input ng-model="name" type="text" />
 Counter:
</body>
</html>

$digest()


 The $scope.$digest() function iterates through all the watches in the $scope object, and its child $scope objects (if it has any). When $digest() iterates over the watches, it checks if the value of the expression has changed. If the value has changed, AngularJS calls the change callback(listener) with the new value and the old value.

The $digest() function is called whenever AngularJS thinks it is necessary. For example, after a button click, or after an AJAX call. You may have some corner cases where AngularJS does not call the $digest() function for you. In that case, you may have to call this function yourself.

<html>
<head>
    <title>AngularJS Digest</title>
    <script src="lib/angular.js"></script>
    <script>
        var myapp = angular.module("myapp", []);
        var myController = myapp.controller("myController", function ($scope) {
            $scope.datetime = new Date();
            $scope.updateTime = function () {
                $scope.datetime = new Date();
            }
            document.getElementById("updateTimeButton").addEventListener('click', function () {
                console.log("update time clicked");
                $scope.datetime = new Date();
                console.log($scope.datetime);
            });
        });
    </script>
</head>
<body ng-app="myapp" ng-controller="myController">
    <button ng-click="updateTime()">Update time - ng-click</button>
    <button id="updateTimeButton">Update time</button>
    <br />
</body>
</html>

When you will click on the second button, the data binding is not updated. Since $scope.$digest() is not called after the second button's event listener is executed. In this way of clicking the second button the time will be updated in the $scope.data.time variable, but the new time will never be displayed.

To fix this issue you need to add a $scope.$digest() call to the second button event listener, like this:

<script type="text/javascript">
    document.getElementById("updateTimeButton").addEventListener('click', function () {
        console.log("update time clicked");
        $scope.datetime = new Date();
        //to update $scope
        $scope.$digest();
        console.log($scope.datetime);
    });
</script>

$apply() 


Angular does auto-magically updates only those model changes which are inside AngularJS context. When you do change in any model outside of the Angular context (like browser DOM events, setTimeout, XHR or third-party libraries), then you need to inform Angular of the changes by calling $apply() manually. When the $apply() function call finishes AngularJS calls $digest() internally, so all data bindings are updated.

In above example, instead of calling $digest() function inside the button listener function you can used the $apply() function like this:


<script>
    document.getElementById("updateTimeButton").addEventListener('click', function () {
        $scope.$apply(function () {
            console.log("update time clicked");
            $scope.datetime = new Date();
            console.log($scope.datetime);
        });
    });
</script>

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