angularjs : logging scope property in directive link function displays undefined

Question

I have this basic plnkr which just implements a basic \"Hello, X\" directive. In the link function I am logging scope.name but I get undefined? Why is

Answer 1

This is a known "problem" where interpolation of @ attributes happens after linking function is invoked. There is a pull request open to change this issue but it is not clear if this one is going to be merged.

In the meantime a way of getting an interpolated value is by observing an attribute like so:

attrs.$observe('hello', function(changedValue){
     console.log(scope.name);
});

And the plunk: http://plnkr.co/edit/Lnw6LuadTLhhcOTsPC8w?p=preview

So, at the end of the day this is a bit confusing behavior of AngularJS that might be changed in the future.