What's the difference between ng-model and ng-bind

I'm currently learning AngularJS and am having difficulty understanding the difference between ng-bind and ng-model.

Can anyone tell me how they differ and when one should be used over the other?

Solution 1:

ng-bind has one-way data binding ($scope --> view). It has a shortcut {{ val }} which displays the scope value $scope.val inserted into html where val is a variable name.

ng-model is intended to be put inside of form elements and has two-way data binding ($scope --> view and view --> $scope) e.g. <input ng-model="val"/>.

Solution 2:

tosh's answer gets to the heart of the question nicely. Here's some additional information....

Filters & Formatters

ng-bind and ng-model both have the concept of transforming data before outputting it for the user. To that end, ng-bind uses filters, while ng-model uses formatters.

filter (ng-bind)

With ng-bind, you can use a filter to transform your data. For example,

<div ng-bind="mystring | uppercase"></div>,

or more simply:

<div>{{mystring | uppercase}}</div>

Note that uppercase is a built-in angular filter, although you can also build your own filter.

formatter (ng-model)

To create an ng-model formatter, you create a directive that does require: 'ngModel', which allows that directive to gain access to ngModel's controller. For example:

app.directive('myModelFormatter', function() {
  return {
    require: 'ngModel',
    link: function(scope, element, attrs, controller) {
     controller.$formatters.push(function(value) {
        return value.toUpperCase();
      });
    }
  }
}

Then in your partial:

<input ngModel="mystring" my-model-formatter />

This is essentially the ng-model equivalent of what the uppercase filter is doing in the ng-bind example above.

Parsers

Now, what if you plan to allow the user to change the value of mystring? ng-bind only has one way binding, from model-->view. However, ng-model can bind from view-->model which means that you may allow the user to change the model's data, and using a parser you can format the user's data in a streamlined manner. Here's what that looks like:

app.directive('myModelFormatter', function() {
  return {
    require: 'ngModel',
    link: function(scope, element, attrs, controller) {
     controller.$parsers.push(function(value) {
        return value.toLowerCase();
      });
    }
  }
}

Play with a live plunker of the ng-model formatter/parser examples

What Else?

ng-model also has built-in validation. Simply modify your $parsers or $formatters function to call ngModel's controller.$setValidity(validationErrorKey, isValid) function.

Angular 1.3 has a new $validators array which you can use for validation instead of $parsers or $formatters.

Angular 1.3 also has getter/setter support for ngModel

Solution 3:

ngModel

This directive executes at priority level 1.

Example Plunker

JAVASCRIPT

angular.module('inputExample', [])
   .controller('ExampleController', ['$scope', function($scope) {
     $scope.val = '1';
}]);

CSS

.my-input {
    -webkit-transition:all linear 0.5s;
    transition:all linear 0.5s;
    background: transparent;
}
.my-input.ng-invalid {
    color:white;
    background: red;
}

HTML

<p id="inputDescription">
   Update input to see transitions when valid/invalid.
   Integer is a valid value.
</p>
<form name="testForm" ng-controller="ExampleController">
    <input ng-model="val" ng-pattern="/^\d+$/" name="anim" class="my-input"
         aria-describedby="inputDescription" />
</form>

ngModel is responsible for:

• Binding the view into the model, which other directives such as input, textarea or select require.
• Providing validation behavior (i.e. required, number, email, url).
• Keeping the state of the control (valid/invalid, dirty/pristine, touched/untouched, validation errors).
• Setting related css classes on the element (ng-valid, ng-invalid, ng-dirty, ng-pristine, ng-touched, ng-untouched) including animations.
• Registering the control with its parent form.

ngBind

This directive executes at priority level 0.

Example Plunker

JAVASCRIPT

angular.module('bindExample', [])
    .controller('ExampleController', ['$scope', function($scope) {
    $scope.name = 'Whirled';
}]);

HTML

<div ng-controller="ExampleController">
  <label>Enter name: <input type="text" ng-model="name"></label><br>
  Hello <span ng-bind="name"></span>!
</div>

ngBind is responsible for:

• Replacing the text content of the specified HTML element with the value of a given expression.

Solution 4:

If you are hesitating between using ng-bind or ng-model, try to answer these questions:

Do you only need to display data?

• Yes: ng-bind (one-way binding)

• No: ng-model (two-way binding)

Do you need to bind text content (and not value)?

• Yes: ng-bind

• No: ng-model (you should not use ng-bind where value is required)

Is your tag a HTML <input>?

• Yes: ng-model (you cannot use ng-bind with <input> tag)

• No: ng-bind