This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by KodMatrix
Angular 20 Release Overview
Angular 20 is officially released on 29th May, 2025, marking a transformative milestone in the evolution of Google’s powerful web framework. This major release delivers significant performance enhancements, developer-centric features, and architectural refinements that make Angular development faster and more efficient.
Quick Release Facts
- Release Date: May 28, 2025
- Version: 20.0.0
- Node.js Support: Minimum version 20.19 (Node.js 18 no longer supported)
- Key Focus: Performance, reactivity, and developer experience
Top New Features in Angular 20
1. Stabilized Signal-Based Reactivity
In Angular v20 we graduated it to stable. The Signals API is now production-ready, offering a more predictable and performant reactivity model.
Key Benefits:
- Better performance than Zone.js-based change detection
- More predictable state management
- Improved debugging experience
- Reduced bundle sizes
2. Zoneless Change Detection (Experimental)
Experience the future of Angular with version 20, no more Zone.js, blazing-fast SSR, and signal-based reactivity.
What’s New:
- Experimental zoneless mode available
- Reduced runtime overhead
- Better integration with modern JavaScript
- Simplified debugging process
3. Enhanced Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
In v17 we graduated hydration from developer preview and we’ve been consistently observing 40-50% improvements in LCP.
SSR Improvements:
- Incremental hydration (experimental)
- Better streaming support
- Improved Core Web Vitals
- 40-50% LCP improvements
Performance Improvements in Angular 20
What’s new in Angular 20 goes beyond performance – it includes major developer experience improvements that streamline the entire development workflow.
Developer Experience Enhancements
Updated Angular Style Guide
A major update of the Angular style guide has been released, with a lot of recommendations removed to focus on the most important ones. The recommended naming convention for files has changed, with most of the suffixes being removed.
Style Guide Changes:
- Simplified file naming conventions
- Reduced boilerplate recommendations
- Focus on essential best practices
- Cleaner project structure
CLI and Tooling Updates
New CLI Features:
- Better diagnostics and error messages
- Improved type checking
- Enhanced build performance
- Streamlined project setup
Testing Framework Improvements
Since Angular’s default test runner, Karma, is deprecated, the team has officially announced their intention to invest in this project in 2025. Angular 20 is likely to introduce an experimental default test runner.
Testing Options Under Consideration:
- Jest – Already in experimental support
- Web Test Runner – Integrated into Angular CLI
- Vitest – Fast and developer-friendly
Breaking Changes and Migration
Node.js Version Requirements
Node.js v18 reached End-of-Life on March 27, 2025, and will no longer be supported in Angular v20. Before upgrading to Angular v20, ensure the Node.js version is at least 20.11.1.
Required Updates:
- Minimum Node.js: 20.19
- Recommended Node.js: Latest LTS (22.x)
- Angular CLI: Update to v20
Migration Checklist
- Update Node.js to version 20.19 or higher
- Run ng update @angular/core @angular/cli
- Review and update deprecated APIs
- Test Signal-based reactivity features
- Update styling conventions if needed
- Verify third-party package compatibility
For a detailed step-by-step migration process, check out our comprehensive guide on Upgrading to Angular 20 which covers common pitfalls and solutions.
Angular 20 vs Angular 19: Key Differences
Performance Statistics
Based on early adoption reports and Angular team benchmarks:
- Bundle Size Reduction: Up to 20% smaller with Signal-based reactivity
- Build Time: 25% faster with updated CLI
- Runtime Performance: 30-40% improvement in change detection
- Core Web Vitals: 40-50% improvement in Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
- Memory Usage: 15-25% reduction with zoneless mode
Who Should Upgrade to Angular 20?
Immediate Upgrade Recommended:
- New projects starting in 2025
- Applications prioritizing performance
- Teams ready to adopt Signal-based reactivity
- Projects requiring latest Node.js features
Consider Waiting:
- Large legacy applications with complex Zone.js dependencies
- Projects with tight deadlines
- Applications heavily dependent on deprecated APIs
- Teams not ready for potential breaking changes
Getting Started with Angular 20
Installation Commands
# Install Angular CLI v20
npm install -g @angular/cli@20
# Create new Angular 20 project
ng new my-app --version=20
# Update existing project
ng update @angular/core @angular/cli
Essential Configuration
{
"experimentalZonelessChangeDetection": true,
"enableSignals": true,
"optimizeFor": "performance"
}
Final Words
Angular 20 has just been released, introducing brand-new APIs, developer-experience enhancements, improved type checking, better CLI diagnostics, and the stabilization of features from earlier Angular versions. Angular v20 is here with major performance boosts, revamped APIs, streamlined tooling and new features that make development faster, easier and more scalable.
Angular 20 represents a significant leap forward in modern web development. With stabilized Signals, experimental zoneless mode, enhanced SSR capabilities, and improved developer experience, it positions Angular as a leading framework for building high-performance web applications in 2025.
The focus on performance, developer experience, and modern JavaScript standards makes Angular 20 an excellent choice for new projects and a worthy upgrade for existing applications ready to embrace the future of reactive programming.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by KodMatrix