Angular Versions Evolution : New Features vs. Deprecated Ones

Angular has grown a lot over the years, and each version brings exciting new features as well as important changes. In this guide, we'll walk you through the key differences between recent Angular versions in a clear, human-friendly way. Whether you're making technical decisions or just curious about what's new, this overview will help you understand the evolution of Angular.

What's New in Angular?

Every release of Angular introduces new tools and improvements that make building modern applications easier and more efficient:

• Angular 9: Introduced the Ivy renderer, which brings faster build times, smaller app sizes, and easier debugging.
• Angular 12: Added strict mode by default and enhanced template syntax, ensuring safer and more reliable code.
• Angular 14: Launched standalone components, making the development process simpler and the app architecture cleaner.
• Angular 16: Introduced the Signal API for more intuitive state management, along with improved server-side rendering (SSR) through better hydration.

What Has Changed or Been Removed?

With innovation comes the need to retire outdated features. Here’s what’s been phased out or updated:

• Angular 9: Began deprecating support for older TypeScript versions to keep the framework modern.
• Angular 11: Dropped support for older browsers like Internet Explorer 9 & 10, ensuring a focus on modern web standards.
• Angular 13: Completely removed the legacy View Engine in favor of Ivy, which simplifies the framework and improves performance.
• Angular 16: Started moving away from traditional NgModules towards standalone APIs, paving the way for a more streamlined approach.

Summary of Changes

Here's a quick summary to help you see the evolution of Angular at a glance:

Version	What's New?	What's Changed?
Angular 9	Ivy renderer for faster builds and smaller bundles	Deprecated older TypeScript versions
Angular 11	Minor performance tweaks	Dropped support for IE 9 & 10
Angular 12	Strict mode and enhanced template syntax	Legacy i18n API deprecated
Angular 14	Standalone components simplify development	-
Angular 16	Signal API and improved SSR hydration	Transitioning from NgModules to standalone APIs

Why These Changes Matter to You

These updates are more than just technical improvements—they directly impact the quality and efficiency of your applications:

• Better Performance: Faster, leaner apps lead to a better user experience.
• Modern Tools: Enhanced features empower your development team to build robust, future-proof applications.
• Simplified Maintenance: Removing outdated features helps reduce technical debt and streamlines ongoing updates.

Final Thoughts

Embracing the evolution of Angular means keeping your technology stack modern, efficient, and secure. If you have any questions or need further insights on how these changes can benefit your projects, feel free to reach out. We're here to help guide you through every step of your digital journey!