Angular 19.2. Templates image

Angular 19.2 introduces a powerful enhancement for dynamic styling—template literals inside [class] bindings. If you've been relying on [ngClass] and [ngStyle] to manage conditional styling, this update simplifies your workflow, making your templates cleaner and more readable.

Let’s explore what’s new, why it matters, and how to use it effectively.

The Problem: How We Used to Handle Dynamic Classes

Before Angular 19.2, dynamically assigning multiple classes required one of these approaches:

Using [ngClass] for Conditional Styling

<div [ngClass]="{ 'active': isActive, 'disabled': !isEnabled }"></div>

This approach works, but it can get cumbersome when dealing with multiple conditions.

Concatenating Classes Dynamically with Functions

<div [class]="getClasses()"></div>

Here, getClasses() is a method in the component that returns a computed class string. While functional, it adds extra function calls that could impact performance and readability.

The Angular 19.2 Solution: Template Literals in [class]

Angular 19.2 allows direct template literals inside [class] bindings, removing the need for [ngClass] in many cases.

How It Works

<div [class]=`"btn ${isActive ? 'btn-primary' : 'btn-secondary'} ${isEnabled ? '' : 'disabled'}"`></div>

Why This Is Better

  • Cleaner syntax

    No need for an object structure or additional functions.

  • More readable templates

    No extra brackets or function calls.

  • Native JavaScript syntax

    Uses a familiar approach for developers.

A Real-World Example: User Profile Card

Imagine you’re building a user profile card that:

✅ Adapts to different themes (premium, standard).

✅ Reflects the user’s online/offline status.

✅ Dynamically applies the user’s favorite color.

Here’s how you can achieve this using template literals in [class] and [style] bindings:

What’s Happening Here?

  • Dynamic Classes:

    card-premium or card-standard is applied based on user.isPremium

  • Online/Offline Status:

    The online or offline class changes dynamically

  • Dynamic Inline Styles:

    The background color and font size adjust according to user preferences.

This eliminates extra function calls while keeping the template concise and readable.

When to Use Template Literals vs. [ngClass]

While template literals in [class] provide a cleaner alternative to [ngClass], each approach has its use cases.

Scenario

Use Template Literals

Use [ngClass]

Few conditional classes

✅

❌

Complex class conditions

❌

✅

Performance-sensitive templates

✅

❌

Multiple independent class bindings

❌

✅

When [ngClass] Is Still Useful

  • When you need conditional logic for many classes

  • When binding objects or dynamically generating many class names

  • When your logic is too complex for inline expressions

Final Thoughts

Angular 19.2’s support for template literals in [class] bindings makes dynamic styling more intuitive and efficient. While [ngClass] is still valuable for more complex scenarios, this update simplifies many common use cases.

Are you ready to switch?