Using Built-in Filters for Data Formatting and Manipulation in AngularJS

AngularJS is a powerful JavaScript framework that offers a wide range of features for web development. One of its key features is the ability to use built-in filters for data formatting and manipulation. These filters provide an easy way to modify and format data without having to write complex code.

What are filters?

Filters in AngularJS are functions that can be applied to expressions in templates and directives to transform data before it is displayed to the user. They are used to format, sort, limit, and manipulate data in various ways. AngularJS provides a comprehensive set of built-in filters that can be applied to data in controllers, templates, and even in custom filters.

Commonly used built-in filters

AngularJS provides a variety of built-in filters that can be used for different purposes. Some of the commonly used filters include:

1. currency filter

The currency filter is used to format a number into a currency format. It takes a number as input and returns a formatted string based on the specified currency. For example:

{{ price | currency }}

2. date filter

The date filter is used to format a date into a specific format. It takes a date object or a string representation of a date as input and returns a formatted string. For example:

{{ myDate | date:'MM/dd/yyyy' }}

3. uppercase and lowercase filters

The uppercase and lowercase filters are used to convert a string to uppercase or lowercase, respectively. For example:

{{ text | uppercase }}
{{ text | lowercase }}

4. filter filter

The filter filter is used to filter an array based on a search string. It takes an array and a search string as inputs and returns a new array that contains only the elements that match the search string. For example:

{{ array | filter:searchString }}

5. limitTo filter

The limitTo filter is used to limit the number of items displayed in an array or a string. It takes an array or a string and a limit as inputs and returns a new array or string that contains only the specified number of items. For example:

{{ array | limitTo:5 }}
{{ text | limitTo:10 }}

These are just a few examples of the built-in filters provided by AngularJS. The framework offers many more filters that can be used to format and manipulate data in various ways.

Creating custom filters

Apart from the built-in filters, AngularJS also allows developers to create their own custom filters. Custom filters can be useful when developers need to apply specific data transformations or formatting that are not covered by the built-in filters. Creating a custom filter in AngularJS is straightforward and involves defining a new filter function and registering it with the module.

Conclusion

Using built-in filters in AngularJS provides a convenient and efficient way to format and manipulate data. Whether it's formatting dates, converting strings to uppercase, filtering arrays, or formatting currency, AngularJS offers a comprehensive set of filters for all your data manipulation needs. Additionally, with the ability to create custom filters, developers have complete control over how data is formatted and transformed in their applications. So next time you need to manipulate data in your AngularJS application, don't forget to leverage the power of built-in filters.