DEV Community

Phinehas Alabi
Phinehas Alabi

Posted on • Edited on

Difference between ngOnChanges vs ngOnInit in angular component

In simplest terms:
ngOnChange - changes on every click event made or component interaction

ngOnInit -Initializes only once upon server start
example below:
in component.ts file:
ex. app.component.ts

 private number: number = 234;
  name: string = 'Oyata';
  user = {
    name: 'Yamata',
  };

get counter() {
    return this.number;
  }
  set counter(value) {
    this.number = value;
  }
  increment() {
    this.counter++;
  }
  decrement() {
    this.counter--;
  }
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Paste below code in any child component.ts file.
Based on the exmaple below I name the file child.component.ts

ngOnChanges(changes: SimpleChanges) {
    // runs before ngOnInit()
    // executes on every change
    const newNumberChange: SimpleChange = changes.myNewNumber;
    console.log(
      'Previous Value - (ng on changes): ',
      newNumberChange.previousValue
    );
    console.log(
      'Current Value - (ng on changes): ',
      newNumberChange.currentValue
    );
    this.myNewNumber = newNumberChange.currentValue;
  }
 ngOnInit() {
    // executes only one time
    // use to initialize or call functions / methods
    console.log('ngOnInit Value: ', this.myNewNumber);
  }
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

In the chicld.component.html, you can paste the below code:

<h2>{{ myNewNumber }}</h2>
<h2>{{ myName.name }}</h2>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

In app.component.html, you can paste the below code:

<button (click)="decrement()">Subtract</button>
<div>
  <app-child [myNewNumber]="counter" [myName]="user"></app-child>
</div>
<button (click)="increment()">Add</button>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Sentry image

See why 4M developers consider Sentry, “not bad.”

Fixing code doesn’t have to be the worst part of your day. Learn how Sentry can help.

Learn more

Top comments (0)

AWS GenAI LIVE image

Real challenges. Real solutions. Real talk.

From technical discussions to philosophical debates, AWS and AWS Partners examine the impact and evolution of gen AI.

Learn more

👋 Kindness is contagious

Please leave a ❤️ or a friendly comment on this post if you found it helpful!

Okay