ArticleZip > Angular2 What Is The Best Way To Get A Reference Of A Template Element Duplicate

Angular2 What Is The Best Way To Get A Reference Of A Template Element Duplicate

When working with Angular 2, there might come a time when you need to get a reference to a duplicate template element. This can be a bit tricky if you're not familiar with the best approach. However, fear not, as I'm here to guide you through the process and help you find the best way to get a reference to that duplicate template element.

One common scenario where you might need to access a duplicate template element is when dealing with dynamic forms or lists that generate multiple instances of the same template. In such cases, it's essential to have a reference to each duplicate element for manipulating or accessing their properties individually.

To achieve this in Angular 2, the best way to get a reference to a template element duplicate is by using the `@ViewChildren` decorator in conjunction with `QueryList`. This powerful combination allows you to query for multiple instances of a template element and access them programmatically.

First, you need to import the necessary dependencies at the top of your component file:

Javascript

import { Component, ViewChildren, QueryList, ElementRef } from '@angular/core';

Next, use the `@ViewChildren` decorator within your component class to query for the duplicate template elements. For example, if you have a list of items that you want to reference, you can define a `QueryList` to hold the references:

Javascript

@Component({
  selector: 'app-my-component',
  template: `
    <div>{{item.name}}</div>
  `
})
export class MyComponent {
  @ViewChildren('itemRef') itemRefs: QueryList;
  
  items = [{ name: 'Item 1' }, { name: 'Item 2' }, { name: 'Item 3' }];
}

In this example, the `@ViewChildren('itemRef')` decorator queries for all elements with the `#itemRef` template reference variable within the component template. The `itemRefs` property then holds a `QueryList` of `ElementRef` instances representing the duplicate elements.

To access the individual duplicate elements, you can iterate over the `itemRefs` `QueryList` using the `forEach` method:

Javascript

ngAfterViewInit() {
  this.itemRefs.forEach(itemRef =&gt; {
    console.log(itemRef.nativeElement.textContent);
  });
}

In the `ngAfterViewInit` lifecycle hook, you iterate over each `ElementRef` in the `itemRefs` `QueryList` and access the `nativeElement` property to interact with the actual DOM element. You can perform operations like reading text content, styling, or adding event listeners to each duplicate template element.

By using `@ViewChildren` and `QueryList`, you can efficiently get references to duplicate template elements in Angular 2 and manipulate them as needed in your application. Whether you're dealing with dynamic forms, lists, or any other scenario with multiple template instances, this approach offers a flexible and powerful solution for working with duplicate elements.

I hope this article has helped you understand the best way to get a reference to a template element duplicate in Angular 2. Happy coding!

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