get the current element

Question

get the current element

It's possible to intercept current event object in ng-click like handlers by using $event property.

But is it possible to get the element from which the method has been called?

like for example:

<div ng-controller='myController'>
  <div>{{distortThatDiv($element)}}</div>
</div>

angularjs

Answer 1

If you're going to manipulate the DOM, you really should be using a directive. However, if you have the $event, you can get the raw element the event was triggered on easily:

$scope.clickHandler = function($event) {
   var element = $event.target;
};

Answer 2

With a directive in angular it is easy to access the element. Just use the link function:

angular.module('myModule', [], function ($compileProvider) {
    $compileProvider.directive('distortThatDiv', function distortThatDivDirective() {
        return {
            restrict: 'A',
            link : function (scope, element, attrs) {
               element.on('click', function () {
                 // do something
               });
            } 
        };
    });
});

Your html would be:

<div ng-controller='myController'>
  <a distort-that-div>My link</a>
</div>

Answer 3

Here's another alternative (not sure if this is a good practice, though):

In your template:

<div data-ng-click="foo()">Lorem ipsum</div>

In your controller:

angular.module('fooApp')
.controller('FooController', ['$scope', '$window', '$log', function FooController ($scope, $window, $log) {
    $scope.foo = function foo () {
        $log.info($window.currentTarget.innerHTML); // Outputs 'Lorem Ipsum';
    }
}]);