Getting reference to child component in parent component

In Angular 2, I have a component that has a child component. However, I want to acquire a copy of that child component to use in the parent, to call its functions or whatever.

I found out that I could use local variables, and that way I will be able to use the component in the template. However, I don't to only use it in the template, I want to use it in the actual code of the component.

I found a way to do that, here is the child code:

//our child
import {Component, OnInit, EventEmitter} from 'angular2/core'

@Component({
  selector: 'my-child',
  providers: [],
  template: `
    <div>
      <h2>Child</h2>
      
    </div>
  `,
  directives: [],
  outputs: ['onInitialized']
})

export class Child implements OnInit{
  
  onInitialized = new EventEmitter<Child>();
  
  constructor() {
    this.name = 'Angular2'
  }
  
  ngOnInit() {
    this.onInitialized.emit(this);
  }
}

Parent:

//our root app component
import {Component} from 'angular2/core'
import {Child} from './child'

@Component({
  selector: 'my-app',
  providers: [],
  template: `
    <div>
      <h2>Hello {{name}}</h2>
      <my-child (onInitialized)="func($event)"></my-child>
    </div>
  `,
  directives: [Child]
})
export class App {
  constructor() {
    this.name = 'Angular2'
  }
  
  func(e) {
    console.log(e)
    
  }
}

I implemented it here in this plunker. But it seems like a hack.

Isn't there a simpler way to attach the component to a variable in its parent?

You can use ViewChild

<child-tag #varName></child-tag>

@ViewChild('varName') someElement;

ngAfterViewInit() {
  someElement...
}

where varName is a template variable added to the element. Alternatively, you can query by component or directive type.

There are alternatives like ViewChildren, ContentChild, ContentChildren.

@ViewChildren can also be used in the constructor.

constructor(@ViewChildren('var1,var2,var3') childQuery:QueryList)

The advantage is that the result is available earlier.

See also http://www.bennadel.com/blog/3041-constructor-vs-property-querylist-injection-in-angular-2-beta-8.htm for some advantages/disadvantages of using the constructor or a field.

Note: @Query() is the deprecated predecessor of @ContentChildren()

• https://github.com/angular/angular/blob/2.0.0-beta.17/modules/angular2/src/core/metadata.dart#L146
• https://github.com/angular/angular/blob/2.0.0-beta.17/modules/angular2/src/core/metadata.dart#L175

Update

Query is currently just an abstract base class. I haven't found if it is used at all https://github.com/angular/angular/blob/2.1.x/modules/@angular/core/src/metadata/di.ts#L145

You need to leverage the @ViewChild decorator to reference the child component from the parent one by injection:

import { Component, ViewChild } from 'angular2/core';  

(...)

@Component({
  selector: 'my-app',
  template: `
    <h1>My First Angular 2 App</h1>
    <child></child>
    <button (click)="submit()">Submit</button>
  `,
  directives:[App]
})
export class AppComponent { 
  @ViewChild(Child) child:Child;

  (...)

  someOtherMethod() {
    this.searchBar.someMethod();
  }
}

Here is the updated plunkr: http://plnkr.co/edit/mrVK2j3hJQ04n8vlXLXt?p=preview.

You can notice that the @Query parameter decorator could also be used:

export class AppComponent { 
  constructor(@Query(Child) children:QueryList<Child>) {
    this.childcmp = children.first();
  }

  (...)
}

You may actually go with ViewChild API...

• Check your forked plunker for complete code - ViewChild API

parent.ts

<button (click)="clicked()">click</button>

export class App {
  @ViewChild(Child) vc:Child;
  constructor() {
    this.name = 'Angular2'
  }
  
  func(e) {
    console.log(e)
    
  }
  clicked(){
   this.vc.getName();
  }
}

child.ts

export class Child implements OnInit{
  
  onInitialized = new EventEmitter<Child>();
  ...  
  ...
  getName()
  {
     console.log('called by vc')
     console.log(this.name);
  }
}