Should You Use Angular Routing or Smart/Dumb Components for Handling Views?

Описание: Discover the advantages of using `Angular Routing` over smart/dumb component structures for view management in Angular applications.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/70849050/ asked by the user 'Ketija Krista' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12774270/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/70849415/ provided by the user 'Grochni' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2333617/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Angular Smart/Dumb Components vs. Switching Views Using Router: Which is Better?

In the world of Angular development, one of the questions that frequently arises is whether to use smart/dumb components or to handle view switching through the Angular Router. This dilemma often comes up when working with applications that have multiple views, such as a List and an Add/Edit component. In this guide, we will explore both approaches and analyze why using the Angular Router may be the better option for your app.

Understanding Smart and Dumb Components

Before diving into the discussion, let's clarify what we mean by smart and dumb components:

Smart Components (also known as Container Components) are responsible for managing state and business logic. They fetch data from services and pass this data down to dumb components.

Dumb Components (also known as Presentational Components) focus solely on rendering UI. They receive data through inputs and emit events to their parent components as needed.

The Challenge

When you have two views, like List and Add/Edit, you might wonder whether to:

Create a smart container component that fetches data and uses child dumb components for rendering.

Use the Angular Router to switch between views, fetching service data directly in each component.

Advantages of Using Angular Routing

After considering both approaches, it's recommended to opt for Angular Routing. Here are several compelling advantages:

1. Persistent View State

One of the most significant benefits is how routing maintains the user's position in the application. When a user reloads the page, they remain on the same view. This functionality is supported by:

Eliminating the need for state storage within the session.

Allowing users to copy and share links with others.

Enabling bookmarking of specific views.

2. Scalability

While having just two views may not highlight scalability concerns, it becomes increasingly important as applications grow. The router offers:

Simplicity in extending a route tree as your application expands.

Avoidance of cumbersome switch-case statements for view management.

3. Built-in Navigation Features

Angular provides built-in features with routing that simplify navigation:

RouterLink directive: Easily navigate to specific routes without coding complex navigation logic.

The flexibility to implement guards and resolvers to manage access and data handling.

4. Lazy Loading

As your application evolves, routing allows you to:

Implement lazy loading for modules.

Improve performance by loading only the necessary components on demand.

Conclusion: Which Approach to Choose?

If you're working with a small application with only a few views and have no plans for expansion, using smart and dumb components might suffice. However, for a potentially growing application, leveraging the Angular Router is the way to go. The control, scalability, and built-in features it provides make it a superior choice, especially as your application complexity increases.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to your anticipated future needs. By employing Angular Routing, you prepare your application for growth while ensuring a seamless user experience.

Now that you have a clearer understanding of the differences between these two approaches, you can confidently decide which method best suits your Angular project.