The $apply
function can run on any scope, including $rootScope
.
Are there cases when it makes a difference if I run it on my local scope or
Running $digest/$apply on any given scope will visit all other scopes using depth-first traversal:
https://github.com/angular/angular.js/blob/3967f5f7d6c8aa7b41a5352b12f457e2fbaa251a/src/ng/rootScope.js#L550-L558
That means that the only difference is that the $digest will start at whatever $scope it was called on
Running $apply
on any scope always results in a $rootscope.$digest
. The only case where it might make a difference is when you provide an expression as an argument to $apply
. The expression will be evaluated in the current scope (vs. $rootScope), but afterwards $rootscope.$digest
is always called.
The source code is quite clear: rootScope.js
Bottom line:
If you call $apply
with no arguments, it makes no difference.
/* What happens with $apply */
angular.module('myApp',[]).controller('MessageController', function($scope) {
$scope.getMessage = function() {
setTimeout(function() {
$scope.$apply(function() {
//wrapped this within $apply
$scope.message = 'Fetched after 3 seconds';
console.log('message:' + $scope.message);
});
}, 2000);
}
$scope.getMessage();
});
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/angular.js/1.7.5/angular.min.js"></script>
<body ng-app="myApp">
<div ng-controller="MessageController">
Delayed Message: {{message}}
</div>
</body>
Another reason for running $apply
on the $rootScope
instead of $scope
typically comes for me when I need to call $apply
in a service which will be used by different controllers and therefore different scopes.
In this cases I prefer to inject the $rootScope
to the service and call $apply on it without worrying on which scopes the service will be used in the future.