How to set focus on input field?

1. When a Modal is opened, set focus on a predefined <input> inside this Modal.

Define a directive and have it $watch a property/trigger so it knows when to focus the element:

Name: <input type="text" focus-me="shouldBeOpen">

app.directive('focusMe', ['$timeout', '$parse', function ($timeout, $parse) {    return {        //scope: true,   // optionally create a child scope        link: function (scope, element, attrs) {            var model = $parse(attrs.focusMe);            scope.$watch(model, function (value) {                console.log('value=', value);                if (value === true) {                    $timeout(function () {                        element[0].focus();                    });                }            });            // to address @blesh's comment, set attribute value to 'false'            // on blur event:            element.bind('blur', function () {                console.log('blur');                scope.$apply(model.assign(scope, false));            });        }    };}]);

Plunker

The $timeout seems to be needed to give the modal time to render.

'2.' Everytime <input> becomes visible (e.g. by clicking some button), set focus on it.

Create a directive essentially like the one above. Watch some scope property, and when it becomes true (set it in your ng-click handler), execute element[0].focus(). Depending on your use case, you may or may not need a $timeout for this one:

<button class="btn" ng-click="showForm=true; focusInput=true">show form and focus input</button><div ng-show="showForm">  <input type="text" ng-model="myInput" focus-me="focusInput"> {{ myInput }}  <button class="btn" ng-click="showForm=false">hide form</button></div>

app.directive('focusMe', function($timeout) {  return {    link: function(scope, element, attrs) {      scope.$watch(attrs.focusMe, function(value) {        if(value === true) {           console.log('value=',value);          //$timeout(function() {            element[0].focus();            scope[attrs.focusMe] = false;          //});        }      });    }  };});

Plunker

Update 7/2013: I've seen a few people use my original isolate scope directives and then have problems with embedded input fields (i.e., an input field in the modal). A directive with no new scope (or possibly a new child scope) should alleviate some of the pain. So above I updated the answer to not use isolate scopes. Below is the original answer:

Original answer for 1., using an isolate scope:

Name: <input type="text" focus-me="{{shouldBeOpen}}">

app.directive('focusMe', function($timeout) {  return {    scope: { trigger: '@focusMe' },    link: function(scope, element) {      scope.$watch('trigger', function(value) {        if(value === "true") {           $timeout(function() {            element[0].focus();           });        }      });    }  };});

Plunker.

Original answer for 2., using an isolate scope:

<button class="btn" ng-click="showForm=true; focusInput=true">show form and focus input</button><div ng-show="showForm">  <input type="text" focus-me="focusInput">  <button class="btn" ng-click="showForm=false">hide form</button></div>

app.directive('focusMe', function($timeout) {  return {    scope: { trigger: '=focusMe' },    link: function(scope, element) {      scope.$watch('trigger', function(value) {        if(value === true) {           //console.log('trigger',value);          //$timeout(function() {            element[0].focus();            scope.trigger = false;          //});        }      });    }  };});

Plunker.

Since we need to reset the trigger/focusInput property in the directive, '=' is used for two-way databinding. In the first directive, '@' was sufficient. Also note that when using '@' we compare the trigger value to "true" since @ always results in a string.

##(EDIT: I've added an updated solution below this explanation)

Mark Rajcok is the man... and his answer is a valid answer, but it has had a defect (sorry Mark)...

...Try using the boolean to focus on the input, then blur the input, then try using it to focus the input again. It won't work unless you reset the boolean to false, then $digest, then reset it back to true. Even if you use a string comparison in your expression, you'll be forced to change the string to something else, $digest, then change it back. (This has been addressed with the blur event handler.)

So I propose this alternate solution:

Use an event, the forgotten feature of Angular.

JavaScript loves events after all. Events are inherently loosely coupled, and even better, you avoid adding another $watch to your $digest.

app.directive('focusOn', function() {   return function(scope, elem, attr) {      scope.$on(attr.focusOn, function(e) {          elem[0].focus();      });   };});

So now you could use it like this:

<input type="text" focus-on="newItemAdded" />

and then anywhere in your app...

$scope.addNewItem = function () {    /* stuff here to add a new item... */    $scope.$broadcast('newItemAdded');};

This is awesome because you can do all sorts of things with something like this. For one, you could tie into events that already exist. For another thing you start doing something smart by having different parts of your app publish events that other parts of your app can subscribe to.

Anyhow, this type of thing screams "event driven" to me. I think as Angular developers we try really hard to hammer $scope shaped pegs into event shape holes.

Is it the best solution? I don't know. It is a solution.

Updated Solution

After @ShimonRachlenko's comment below, I've changed my method of doing this slightly. Now I use a combination of a service and a directive that handles an event "behind the scenes":

Other than that, it's the same principal outlined above.

Here is a quick demo Plunk

###Usage

<input type="text" focus-on="focusMe"/>

app.controller('MyCtrl', function($scope, focus) {    focus('focusMe');});

###Source

app.directive('focusOn', function() {   return function(scope, elem, attr) {      scope.$on('focusOn', function(e, name) {        if(name === attr.focusOn) {          elem[0].focus();        }      });   };});app.factory('focus', function ($rootScope, $timeout) {  return function(name) {    $timeout(function (){      $rootScope.$broadcast('focusOn', name);    });  }});

I have found some of the other answers to be overly complicated when all you really need is this

app.directive('autoFocus', function($timeout) {    return {        restrict: 'AC',        link: function(_scope, _element) {            $timeout(function(){                _element[0].focus();            }, 0);        }    };});

usage is

<input name="theInput" auto-focus>

We use the timeout to let things in the dom render, even though it is zero, it at least waits for that - that way this works in modals and whatnot too