best practices for angular development

10 Angular Best Practices for Building Scalable Applications

ARTICLE
16 Apr 2024

A strong digital presence is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. If you are a business start-up with a plan to actively engage in a project in Angular, this blog post is definitely for you.  Scalability is the key factor to enhance your app performance much easier and extra beneficial. 

But how do you ensure your Angular application can adapt and grow alongside your business? Here’s where scalability comes in. Building a scalable Angular application means creating a foundation that can handle increasing user traffic, evolving features, and future integrations – all without sacrificing performance or user experience. 

Whether you’re a startup aiming for rapid growth or an enterprise seeking stability, mastering of Angular best practices is essential. Stay tuned as we explore each practice in detail, providing actionable insights and real-world examples.

This blog points to 10 key Angular best practices for building robust and scalable applications in 2024.

What are Scalable Angular Applications? Why is it Important?

Scalable Angular applications are designed to accommodate growth. They reflect a well-defined architecture that allows for easy integration of new features, modules, and functionalities without compromising their stability or performance. 

For example, you’ve launched a phenomenal app, attracting a surge of users. But as your user base expands, your app struggles to keep pace, experiencing performance issues and sluggishness. This scenario highlights the importance of scalability. Scalable applications seamlessly adapt to accommodate increasing user demands and feature complexity.  Here’s why building scalable Angular applications is crucial:

  • Reduced Long-Term Costs: A scalable foundation eliminates the need for costly rewrites down the line. You can build upon a solid core, saving time and resources in the long run.
  • Improved User Experience: Scalable applications ensure smooth performance even with a growing user base. This translates to a positive user experience, fostering brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.
  • Enhanced Agility: Scalable applications allow you to adapt to changing market demands and user needs swiftly. You can quickly integrate new features or modify existing ones without major disruptions.

You can find here the top Angular development companies for modern web applications in the US.

10 Angular Best Practices to Adapt in 2024

10 angular best practices

Developing efficient Angular applications requires a solid foundation. Here are 10 essential Angular best practices to consider for your 2024 projects, ensuring a smooth development experience and a better user experience:

1. Using Angular CLI for Organized Directories

The Angular Command-Line Interface (CLI) is a versatile tool that not only facilitates the creation of an application but also its testing, scaffolding, and deployment. It establishes a workspace directory and formulates an application structure. The objective here is to mitigate Javascript fatigue and enable customization of the application development environment.

This interface can be utilized to construct a basic structure for the application. It also allows for the consolidation of multiple modules in a single location while providing the flexibility to add an unlimited number of modules and features at any time via Angular CLI. Angular CLI aids in avoiding a disorganized approach to app programming and assists in adding new files, components, and services, executing end-to-end tests, and more – all within a single location. A significant advantage of incorporating Angular CLI into your development environment is the ease of onboarding new developers to the team at any stage without any hindrance.

It simplifies their understanding of the directory structure and app flow via Angular CLI, ultimately saving time when it comes to briefing your extended teams about the project.

For Example; Imagine building a Lego house. The CLI (Command Line Interface) is like the instruction booklet that provides a starting structure and helps you organize the Lego pieces (your code files) into folders (components, services, etc.) in a consistent way. This makes it easier to find things later and ensures everyone building the house (other developers) understands how the pieces fit together.

2. Best Practices for Angular Routing

Routing’s primary function is to conceal or reveal components based on user requirements, thereby reducing frequent server trips by making components accessible as needed. Angular applications, particularly when designing large-scale apps, can sometimes be disorganized in certain app module areas due to poor routing practices in programming.

Enhancing this aspect allows for a more efficient pattern of hiding and displaying components and modules, leading to an improved user experience.

The concept of routing different paths in an Angular application is rooted in understanding the basics. Developers need to grasp the fundamental concept of integrating components and templates into the app, followed by the correct operation of routes.

The best practices in routing include:

  • Developing routes module-wise
  • Routing with lazy loading
  • Preloading lazy loading routes
  • Organizing route guards

For example; Think of an amusement park with different sections (routes) like rides, games, and food stalls. Routing in Angular helps you define how users navigate between different parts (components) of your application. Just like the park map, routing guides users to the right sections based on their clicks or actions.

3. Modular Development for a Streamlined Application Structure

Angular applications are designed to be extremely fast. An enterprise-grade app comprises multiple modules, each with different functionalities. Modularization of the application involves segmenting the application into various parts.

For instance, large applications like social networking sites or content-heavy sites only include a few crucial routes in the app component (root component), while other modules are divided based on their functionalities. This practice not only improves the initial loading time but also organizes the entire coding structure module-wise, making it more comprehensible for developers.

Most importantly, this practice enables lazy loading by allowing the loadChildren property to apply to app modules that define the routes. It demystifies the concept of lazy loading in general and aligns to reduce enhanced and enhanced user engagement.

For example; Imagine a large recipe book. Breaking it down into sections for appetizers, main courses, and desserts makes it easier to find recipes. Modular development in Angular achieves the same. You break down your application into smaller, independent modules (like recipes) that can be reused and managed separately. This keeps your code organized and easier to maintain.

4. Adopting Angular Coding Standards for Structured Code

Coding standards serve as a programming guide for software. Navigating complex code structures and resolving bugs can be challenging for developers. In Angular applications, adhering to specific coding styles can enhance user experience, minimize bugs, and simplify the handling of complex real-time issues. Ignoring these standards could negatively impact ROI.

Constructing Angular applications following standard file-structure conventions allows for a codebase that is easy to comprehend and manage.

Developers should familiarize themselves with shortcuts for similarly named companion files, such as hero.component.ts|html|css|spec, which represent various files with analogous names.

The guidelines stress the importance of the single responsibility principle for components, services, and symbols, as it leads to a more streamlined and readable app structure.

Adopting these practices fosters a test-friendly app environment, leading to decreased testing time and simplified deployments.

For example; Imagine writing instructions for building a shelf. Consistent formatting (like indents and spacing) makes the instructions easier to read and follow. Angular coding styles provide guidelines on how to write your Angular code consistently. This improves readability and makes it easier for other developers to understand your code.

5. Establishing a Scalable Folder Structure

When aiming to develop a scalable Angular app, it’s advisable to establish a highly scalable folder structure. This structure should be adaptable to all real-world scenarios, with the capacity for gradual case additions over time, even if not immediately.

This involves creating a folder structure that assigns designated folders for components and pages. Specific services, such as singleton services (which include one instance per application), can be assigned to the core module (root module).

Thus, the root module houses single instance services, unlike shared modules where components and services are shared across different modules of the application.

Developers employ the shared-module concept to enhance code reusability, ultimately reducing development time and cost.

For example; As your Lego house grows, you might add more rooms or floors. A scalable folder structure in Angular allows you to easily add new features (like rooms) to your application without everything becoming messy. It organizes your code files into folders based on their purpose, making it easier to find things as your application grows.

6. Implementing Lazy Load Feature 

implement lazy loading

The lazy load feature module enables your application to operate based on user demand. Its primary function is to reduce startup time, facilitating the smooth loading of the application.

Given that Angular applications are frequently associated with large-scale and enterprise-based projects, reducing the initial load time enhances user experience and promotes greater user interaction with the application.

For example; Imagine visiting a large online store. You wouldn’t want to wait for the entire catalog to load before you can browse specific items. Lazy loading in Angular works similarly. It loads only the parts of your application that are needed right away, reducing the initial load time for users. This makes your application feel faster and more responsive.

7. Distinguishing Between Smart and Dumb Components

Smart components are primarily concerned with data manipulation, API calls, functionality, and state management. On the other hand, dumb components are primarily concerned with aesthetics and focus on appearance.

The importance of simple forms for the signup process is well understood. Smart components concentrate on functionality, while dumb components focus on the user interface and reusability. Dumb components are designed to accept properties and be as dynamic and reusable as possible. When working on a scalable Angular project, it’s essential to properly structure these components and the finer details behind them. This categorization aids in the effortless creation of more understandable Angular apps and enhances the user experience.

For example; Consider a website with a straightforward registration process that includes an input form and a sign-in process for users. The registration form includes input boxes and buttons.

The appearance of the buttons and text boxes is managed by the dumb components, while the functionality of these buttons is managed by the smart components. For instance, clicking on a submit button stores the user-entered information in the database.

8. Employing Clean-Code Practices for Easy File & Code Structure Location

Angular has grown to be one of the most sought-after frameworks for JavaScript-based web applications. It offers several built-in features that aid in the development of web apps with a clean-code architecture. This is a key factor behind the framework’s strong ability to build highly scalable applications.

The clean-code practice involves using the Angular CLI, adhering to a coding style guide, writing readable code, and maintaining an organized folder structure. You could encourage your Angular development team to focus more on these fundamentals.

For example; Consider a video-streaming web application built with Angular:

When you initiate the app module, it only contains a limited number of modules, such as a few categories. However, scaling the app module necessitates a deep understanding of state management between components, as well as the ability to find the correct routes and locate app modules. This is where clean-code practice comes into play.

This practice involves keeping the code readable in most places, maintaining a consistent code structure for easy management and maintenance, writing small functions, and adhering to consistent and relevant file naming conventions.

9. Lead Service Workers for Ultra-Responsive Applications

Angular framework is popular for its ability to simplify user interactions by transforming traditional web applications into single-page applications, minimizing file sizes, enhancing responsiveness, and fostering interactive web apps.

Service workers take this a step further by enhancing user interaction with web apps. They morph your single-page apps into progressive web apps by integrating native features. Service workers are compatible with any Angular framework version above five. 

They enhance the user experience by enabling users to access and interact with the native features of a web app, even in the absence of internet connectivity. Incorporating these workers into your Angular codebase ensures that you’re utilizing the most recent versions of Angular and Angular CLI. This has several benefits related to user experience and reliability. These minor technical advancements assist users in better comprehending the application’s purpose.

So, what is the role of Service Workers?

  • Provides a native app experience and fully caches the version when web pages are refreshed.
  • Loads the most recent cached code in new tabs.
  • Downloads resources only when the contents have changed.
  • Serves the previous version of the application until a stable version is available.

For example; Imagine a personal assistant who remembers your preferences and pre-fetches things you might need. Service workers in Angular are like that assistant. They run in the background, cache frequently accessed parts of your application, and can even work offline. This makes your application feel faster and more responsive, especially on slow internet connections.

10. Utilizing Async Pipes for Memory Conservation

Angular is equipped with numerous built-in pipes. These features are instrumental in refining the output of any number of inputs provided to it. Essentially, they support the fundamental concept of any web application, i.e., receiving inputs, processing them, and converting them into a desirable output.

Developers should utilize these features for reusability and to simplify code architecture, thereby segregating complex mathematical processes.

Async Pipes are such built-in features. They are a boon when building a large-scale application accessed by thousands of users, as they save a significant amount of memory bytes. They subscribe to the observables and return the value it has emitted.

Therefore, they are useful for marking components for emitted values and automatically unsubscribing from the observables to prevent unnecessary memory leaks.

For example; Imagine having a large stack of papers (data) on your desk. You wouldn’t want to hold onto all of them at once if you only need to look at one at a time. Async pipes in Angular help manage data efficiently. They prevent your application from loading all the data at once, especially for large datasets, and only retrieve and display the data as needed. This saves memory and improves performance.

Why is Nintriva Your Reliable Partner for Your Angular Development Services? 

Nintriva’s homepage

Nintriva is dedicated to serving you through the latest technological advancements, ensuring that your project is future-ready. Nintriva’s team’s understanding of Angular is unparalleled, and their approach to development is centered around Angular project structure best practices. 

Experienced Developers: Nintriva’s focus on Angular services suggests a team well-versed in the framework. This can translate to:

  • Faster Development: Their experience can streamline development, avoiding common roadblocks and implementing best practices.
  • Exceptional Code Quality: Their in-depth knowledge can ensure your application is well-structured, maintainable, and built to scale effectively.
  • Mitigated Risks: Their experience can help foresee and circumvent potential issues that might arise during development.

Potential Time and Cost Benefits:

  • Reduced Development Time: With their Angular expertise, they can potentially complete your project faster than a less experienced team.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Faster development often translates to lower overall costs. Their efficiency can save you money in the long run.

Connect Nintriva for Your Angular Projects

You can easily connect Nintriva’s help for any kind of angular project structure best practices. Nintriva is committed to delivering end-to-end Angular solutions. From ideation to deployment, their approach is structured to ensure that your business goals directly influence the technical choices made. 

Software’s Build Using Angular by Nintriva

They specialize in creating scalable and secure Angular applications that provide a seamless experience across all devices.  Let’s check the major projects they are working on Angular.

  • BIZ Boon: BizBoon connects Indian organizations and individuals entering or established in the US and Canada with local firms and institutions. 
  • Column Technologies: Addressing Human Resource requests and inquiries is critical to the overall morale and productivity of an organization, and understanding they must be addressed promptly.
  • eDoctorBook: It’s an online platform enabling seamless and effortless interaction between patients and doctors.
Prompting readers to connect Nintriva

Conclusion

By adhering to the 10 best practices outlined above, you can ensure your applications are well-equipped to accommodate growth, deliver a seamless user experience, and maintain optimal performance.

If you are looking for a helping hand to improve your Angular application performance and want to implement the best practices of Angular, hire an Angular developer from Nintriva today. 

Get in touch with their dedicated Angular developers to make your existing Angular application clean and performant.

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