Getting Started with Firebase and Angular
Firebase is a powerful development platform offered by Google, known for its ease of setup and scalability. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to integrate Firebase with Angular, using the official Angular library for Firebase, AngularFire.
Why Choose Firebase?
Cloud services like Firebase are gaining popularity due to their ability to save time and resources. By leveraging Firebase, you can focus on developing your application without worrying about security, maintenance, and other backend tasks. Additionally, Firebase offers a Realtime Database and a cloud Firestore, providing flexible document storage and scalability for larger datasets.
Setting Up Firebase
To begin, create a new project on the Firebase console. Give your project a name, and follow the prompts to set up your project. Once complete, you’ll be taken to the Project Overview page. From here, add a new web application by clicking the “” button. Register your app, and you’ll be provided with scripts to set up the Firebase SDK.
Initializing Firestore and Creating Documents
In the Firebase console, navigate to the Database tab and create a new database in test mode. Select a location, and wait for the setup process to complete. Once finished, create a new collection and add two documents with a single field and value.
Creating an Angular Project
Next, create a new Angular project using the Angular CLI. Run ng new my-app and follow the prompts to set up your project. Install the Angular CLI globally by running npm install -g @angular/cli.
Setting Up Firebase in Angular
To integrate Firebase with your Angular app, install the AngularFire package by running npm install firebase @angular/fire. Then, import the necessary modules in your app.module.ts file. Initialize Firebase by adding the Firebase config to your app.module.ts file.
Reading Data from Firestore
In your home component, import the AngularFirestore module and initialize it in your constructor. Use the valueChanges() method to read data from your Firestore collection. Subscribe to the observable to receive updates when the data changes.
Writing Data to Firestore
To write data to Firestore, create a form in your home component HTML file. In your home component TS file, import the AngularFirestore module and create a function to add a new document to your collection. Use the add() method to write data to Firestore.
Querying Firestore
Create a new form in your home component HTML file to query your Firestore collection. In your home component TS file, use the where() method to query your collection based on a document’s value. Subscribe to the observable to receive updates when the data changes.
Updating and Deleting Documents
To update a document, create a form in your home component HTML file. In your home component TS file, use the doc() method to get the document by ID, and then use the update() method to update the document. To delete a document, use the delete() method.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve successfully created an Angular app that can create, read, update, and delete Firestore documents. Firebase Firestore is a powerful tool for building scalable applications, and with AngularFire, integrating it with Angular is a breeze.