angular-access-modifiers

Version Support

Minimum Angular Version: 15.0.0
Maximum Angular Version: 21.0.0
Supported Versions: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

When to Use

Load this skill when:

• Defining the public API of a component
• Exposing inputs/outputs (signals)
• Declaring state for the template
• Hiding internal logic from consumers and the template

Critical Patterns

public readonly for API/Inputs/Outputs

Supported in: v17+

Use public readonly to expose the public API of the component, using the modern input() and output() functions for signal-based inputs and outputs.

import { Component, input, output, ChangeDetectionStrategy } from '@angular/core';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-example',
  standalone: true,
  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
  template: `<button (click)="save()">Save</button>`
})
export class ExampleComponent {
  public readonly name = input.required<string>(); // input signal
  public readonly saved = output<void>(); // output signal

  save() {
    this.saved.emit();
  }
}

protected readonly for template state

Supported in: v15+

Use protected readonly for properties accessed only by the class and the template (e.g., internal signals for displaying state).

import { Component, signal, ChangeDetectionStrategy } from '@angular/core';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-template-state',
  standalone: true,
  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
  template: `<div>{{ count() }}</div>`
})
export class TemplateStateComponent {
  protected readonly count = signal(0);
}

private readonly for internal logic

Supported in: v15+

Use private readonly for properties only used inside the class (not accessible from the template or outside the component).

import { Component, signal, ChangeDetectionStrategy } from '@angular/core';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-secret',
  standalone: true,
  changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
  template: `<span>Secret logic</span>`
})
export class SecretComponent {
  private readonly secretValue = signal('hidden');
}

Extended examples and advanced patterns

For complete examples, common mistakes, and advanced patterns, see references/patterns.md.

Common Mistakes

❌ Don’t use public for everything

Why this is problematic: Exposes internal state/logic unnecessarily.

export class BadComponent {
  public count = 0; // ❌ Should be protected or private
}

✅ Instead:

export class GoodComponent {
  protected readonly count = 0;
}

❌ Don’t use private for template state

Why this is problematic: The template cannot access private members.

export class BadComponent {
  private readonly count = 0; // ❌ Not accessible in the template
}

✅ Instead:

export class GoodComponent {
  protected readonly count = 0; // ✅ Accessible in the template
}

Quick Reference

Resources

• Angular.dev
• Angular Style Guide
• TypeScript Handbook: Classes