Customize Interpolation Syntax in Angular at Component Level

Did You Know?

Angular allows you to override the default {{ expression }} syntax for string interpolation at the component level! You can, for example, switch to a syntax like [[ expression ]] or even something crazier like __ expression __.

While this feature is deprecated, it’s a fun trick to explore and experiment with while it lasts.

How to Customize Interpolation Syntax

The magic lies in the interpolation property of the @Component decorator. Here’s how you can set a custom interpolation syntax for a specific component:

import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy } from '@angular/core';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-posts',
  template: `
  <p>
    Title: <b> __ title __ </b>
    Subtitle: <b> __ subtitle __ </b>
  </p>
  `,
  styleUrls: ['./posts.component.css'],
  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
  interpolation: ['__', '__'], // Custom interpolation syntax
})
export class PostsComponent { 
  public title = 'Welcome to Posts!';
  public subtitle = 'Angular is awesome!';
}

In this example, we’ve replaced {{ expression }} with __ expression __ as the interpolation syntax for the PostsComponent.

Why Is This Useful?

1. Team Familiarity:
   If your team has experience with a different language or framework (e.g., Django or React), you might want to use syntax that feels more familiar.
2. Custom Styling:
   You can pick interpolation delimiters that fit seamlessly with your design system or application structure.
3. Component-Specific Customization:
   You can define different interpolation styles for different components to experiment or fit unique requirements.

Should You Use It?

As tempting as it sounds, this feature is deprecated and might be removed in future Angular versions. Hence, it’s better suited for demos or experimental projects rather than production use. However, showing this trick to your teammates might spark curiosity and laughter!

See It in Action

Want to watch this in action? Check out the video below, where we demonstrate this customization step-by-step!

Cheers!