Friday, May 24, 2013

Angular service or factory?

tl;dr is at the end

In various AngularJS tutorials and documentation, the authors choose to use service or factory but don't explain why you would use one or the other. Few mention that value and constant are also options.

Let's see why you would use one over the other. We should also understand how providers work:


Here's the source for the provider method:

function provider(name, provider_) {
if (isFunction(provider_) || isArray(provider_)) {
provider_ = providerInjector.instantiate(provider_);
if (!provider_.$get) {
throw Error('Provider ' + name + ' must define $get factory method.');
return providerCache[name + providerSuffix] = provider_;

name is a string. provider_ can be one of three things:

  1. function

    If a function is passed in, the function is called with dependency injection and should return an object with a $get method.

  2. array

    An array will be treated like a function using Inline Annotation. It must also return an object with a $get method.

  3. object

    If an object is passed in, it is simply expected to have a $get method.

Whatever the second arg to provider is, you eventually end up with an object that has a $get method. Here's an example showing what happens:

// You can run this

// Create a module
var hippo = angular.module('hippo', []);

// Register an object provider
hippo.provider('awesome', {
$get: function() {
return 'awesome data';

// Get the injector (this happens behind the scenes in angular apps)
var injector = angular.injector(['hippo', 'ng']);

// Call a function with dependency injection
injector.invoke(function(awesome) {
console.log('awesome == ' + awesome);

Once you understand providers you will see that factory, service, value and constant are just convenience methods for making providers.


Here's the source:

function factory(name, factoryFn) {
return provider(name, { $get: factoryFn });

So it lets you shorten the awesome provider creation code to this:

hippo.factory('awesome', function() {
return 'awesome data';


Here's the source:

function service(name, constructor) {
return factory(name, ['$injector', function($injector) {
return $injector.instantiate(constructor);

So it lets you make a factory that will instantiate a "class". For example:

var gandalf = angular.module('gandalf', []);

function Gandalf() {
this.color = 'grey';
Gandalf.prototype.comeBack = function() {
this.color = 'white';

gandalf.service('gandalfService', Gandalf);

var injector = angular.injector(['gandalf', 'ng']);

injector.invoke(function(gandalfService) {

The above code will instantiate Gandalf, but remember that everything that uses the service will get the same instance! (which is a good thing).


Here's the source:

function value(name, value) {
return factory(name, valueFn(value));

Using value would let you shorten the awesome provider to:

hippo.value('awesome', 'awesome data');


Here's the source

function constant(name, value) {
providerCache[name] = value;
instanceCache[name] = value;

constant differs from value in that it's accessible during config. Here's how you use it:

var joe = angular.module('joe', []);

joe.constant('bobTheConstant', 'a value');
joe.value('samTheValue', 'a different value');

joe.config(function(bobTheConstant) {

joe.config(function(samTheValue) {

// This will fail with "Error: Unknown provider: samTheValue from joe"
var injector = angular.injector(['joe', 'ng']);

Read Module Loading & Dependencies in the Modules doc for more information on usage.

In summary

If you want your function to be called like a normal function, use factory. If you want your function to be instantiated with the new operator, use service. If you don't know the difference, use factory.

This is the (great) documentation for each function in the AngularJS source:

  1. factory

    A short hand for configuring services if only `$get` method is required.

  2. service

    A short hand for registering service of given class.

  3. value

    A short hand for configuring services if the `$get` method is a constant.

  4. constant

    A constant value, but unlike {@link AUTO.$provide#value value} it can be injected into configuration function (other modules) and it is not interceptable by {@link AUTO.$provide#decorator decorator}.


  1. I'm going to read later, because I love all things Angular these days. But I just had to comment on your blog design. It's freaking cool. Nice job.


  3. Nice little article, I would differ however, and say, if you don't know the difference between calling 'like a regular function' and using the new operator: You should figure out the difference first, and then not just blindly pick factory.

    1. So what IS the difference? I don't see why it matters.

    2. Sorry it's taken me so long. In the way I generally use `factory`, there wouldn't be a significant difference if I used `service` instead. But if I wanted to use a javascript "class" (by adding methods to a prototype object), then I would need to use `service.`

      Here's more discussion about what "new" does:

    3. Learn by doing: Use the Factory pattern until you find a need to use Service (such as when you're reusing existing OOP classes from prior JavaScript models).

  4. Great article, makes all these little helper methods so much more transparent.

  5. I think there's an error in the service source. It says factory where it should say provider. I hope I'm right, otherwise I'm confused...

    1. Jacco,

      A service is a specific kind of factory: one that instantiates the function instead of just calling it.

      See Search for "function service("

  6. Great article. Really loved it. Very clear and very informative. =) Your "use the source" approach is awesome. I hope you keep them (angularjs articles) coming. I need them! =D
    Thank you.

  7. ye its a very impresive article about in a services in factory.i really like that.thanks for sharing such a nice blog.IT services

  8. Nice article on angular services.i really like your all points.fantastic going.keep posting in fututre.IT services

  9. A grate documentation and awesome article. AngularJS works great with other technologies. Add as much or as little of AngularJS to an existing page as you like. Many other frameworks require full commitment. This page has multiple AngularJS applications embedded in it, read more.

  10. Your post says ..."The above code will instantiate Gandalf, but remember that everything that uses the service will get the same instance! (which is a good thing)."
    And then, at the end it says,
    "If you want your function to be instantiated with the new operator, use service"

    So, by using a service, do I get a new instance or the same old instance ?
    Because, if the method is instantiated each time, then it must give a diff instance right ?

    1. Using service, you will get the same instance each time. Run the example gandalf code, then run this:

      injector.invoke(function(gandalfService) {

      You will see that his color is still white (and not grey as it would be with a new instance).

  11. It is non clear to me what the method $get must be. Let me know if i get it right: the $get method is a (annotated) function whose return value (object, function or primitive type) is what we get when we use the service. In the case of service there is no $get method, instead we pass a constructor which constructs the object we get when we use the service (in this case we can only use an object, not a function or a primitive value)

  12. Great article, now I Understand it!

  13. This is the article I've been searching for, for about a week now. Thanks you so much!

  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

  15. Clear explanation, thank you... and awesome blog design !!!

  16. A Service is good for providing cross app/controller communication. A very good presentation on

  17. The in summary should be at the top so the rest of the code makes sense. Love this ty!

  18. Is the point of difference then that a factory is for multiple instances and a service for a singleton? Is that it (other than the subtle syntax differences of course)

    1. Both factory and service make singletons. The only difference is that service is instantiated as a JavaScript "class."

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