Angular is an open-source front-end framework for building single-page applications (SPAs) for the web. The creation of SPAs has become an important part of web development, as it harnesses reactive programming to deliver engaging and useful experiences for users without requiring them to load new pages or download apps. Familiar examples of SPAs include Gmail, Google Maps, Netflix, and Twitter, and many other websites that we use every day.

There is a difference between Angular and AngularJS, although they both serve the same purpose of making the creation of SPAs easy. AngularJS was developed first, and it is based on JavaScript. Subsequently, Angular - which began as Angular 2.0 - was developed using TypeScript, an object-oriented programming language that adds new functionalities suited for application-scale development to JavaScript. In particular, TypeScript’s static typing feature reduces potential for scripting errors, and the ability to use modular components further makes TypeScript (and Angular) fast and efficient.‎

Before starting to learn Angular, it would help you to already have skills or experience in Microsoft's TypeScript language as it is the dominant language for Angular. TypeScript is an object-oriented programming language known for its use in the development of large applications. Learning TypeScript would help you to more fully comprehend Angular, as TypeScript offers interface, static typing, and support for modules, all key ingredients in Angular. Having some knowledge of command-line interface (CLI) may also help you to find learning Angular more easy to grasp, as CLI helps to serve angular applications in project building and more accessible testing methods.‎

Learning Angular may be right for you if you want to work with the new, fast version of an older programming language. Angular is a major version upgrade to Angular JS that is easier to develop with due to its modular design components. It's faster than Angular JS, and it's based in TypeScript, rather than JavaScript. There are some similarities between the two frameworks in front-end uses on open source platforms.‎