Add api doc for ngif

packages/common/src/directives/ng_if.ts

@@ -10,95 +10,141 @@ import {Directive, EmbeddedViewRef, Input, TemplateRef, ViewContainerRef, ɵstri
 
 
 /**
- * Conditionally includes a template based on the value of an `expression`.
+ * A structural directive that conditionally includes a template based on the value of
+ * an expression coerced to Boolean.
+ * When the expression evaluates to true, Angular renders the template
+ * provided in a `then` clause, and when  false or null,
+ * Angular renders the template provided in an optional `else` clause. The default
+ * template for the `else` clause is blank.
  *
- * `ngIf` evaluates the `expression` and then renders the `then` or `else` template in its place
- * when expression is truthy or falsy respectively. Typically the:
- *  - `then` template is the inline template of `ngIf` unless bound to a different value.
- *  - `else` template is blank unless it is bound.
+ * A [shorthand form](guide/structural-directives#the-asterisk--prefix) of the directive,
+ * `*ngIf="condition"`, is generally used, provided
+ * as an attribute of the anchor element for the inserted template.
+ * Angular expands this into a more explicit version, in which the anchor element
+ * is contained in an `<ng-template>` element.
  *
+ * Simple form with shorthand syntax:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * <div *ngIf="condition">Content to render when condition is true.</div>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Simple form with expanded syntax:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * <ng-template [ngIf]="condition"><div>Content to render when condition is
+ * true.</div></ng-template>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Form with an "else" block:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * <div *ngIf="condition; else elseBlock">Content to render when condition is true.</div>
+ * <ng-template #elseBlock>Content to render when condition is false.</ng-template>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Shorthand form with "then" and "else" blocks:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * <div *ngIf="condition; then thenBlock else elseBlock"></div>
+ * <ng-template #thenBlock>Content to render when condition is true.</ng-template>
+ * <ng-template #elseBlock>Content to render when condition is false.</ng-template>
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Form with storing the value locally:
+ *
+ * ```
+ * <div *ngIf="condition as value; else elseBlock">{{value}}</div>
+ * <ng-template #elseBlock>Content to render when value is null.</ng-template>
+ * ```
  *
  * @usageNotes
  *
- * ### Most common usage
+ * The `*ngIf` directive is most commonly used to conditionally show an inline template,
+ * as seen in the following  example.
+ * The default `else` template is blank.
  *
- * The most common usage of the `ngIf` directive is to conditionally show the inline template as
- * seen in this example:
  * {@example common/ngIf/ts/module.ts region='NgIfSimple'}
  *
  * ### Showing an alternative template using `else`
  *
- * If it is necessary to display a template when the `expression` is falsy use the `else` template
- * binding as shown. Note that the `else` binding points to a `<ng-template>` labeled `#elseBlock`.
- * The template can be defined anywhere in the component view but is typically placed right after
+ * To display a template when `expression` evaluates to false, use an `else` template
+ * binding as shown in the following example.
+ * The `else` binding points to an `<ng-template>`  element labeled `#elseBlock`.
+ * The template can be defined anywhere in the component view, but is typically placed right after
  * `ngIf` for readability.
  *
  * {@example common/ngIf/ts/module.ts region='NgIfElse'}
  *
- * ### Using non-inlined `then` template
+ * ### Using an external `then` template
  *
- * Usually the `then` template is the inlined template of the `ngIf`, but it can be changed using
- * a binding (just like `else`). Because `then` and `else` are bindings, the template references can
- * change at runtime as shown in this example.
+ * In the previous example, the then-clause template is specified inline, as the content of the
+ * tag that contains the `ngIf` directive. You can also specify a template that is defined
+ * externally, by referencing a labeled `<ng-template>` element. When you do this, you can
+ * change which template to use at runtime, as shown in the following example.
  *
  * {@example common/ngIf/ts/module.ts region='NgIfThenElse'}
  *
- * ### Storing conditional result in a variable
- *
- * A common pattern is that we need to show a set of properties from the same object. If the
- * object is undefined, then we have to use the safe-traversal-operator `?.` to guard against
- * dereferencing a `null` value. This is especially the case when waiting on async data such as
- * when using the `async` pipe as shown in following example:
- *
- * ```
- * Hello {{ (userStream|async)?.last }}, {{ (userStream|async)?.first }}!
- * ```
- *
- * There are several inefficiencies in the above example:
- *  - We create multiple subscriptions on `userStream`. One for each `async` pipe, or two in the
- *    example above.
- *  - We cannot display an alternative screen while waiting for the data to arrive asynchronously.
- *  - We have to use the safe-traversal-operator `?.` to access properties, which is cumbersome.
- *  - We have to place the `async` pipe in parenthesis.
+ * ### Storing a conditional result in a variable
  *
- * A better way to do this is to use `ngIf` and store the result of the condition in a local
- * variable as shown in the the example below:
+ * You might want to show a set of properties from the same object. If you are waiting
+ * for asynchronous data, the object can be undefined.
+ * In this case, you can use `ngIf` and store the result of the condition in a local
+ * variable as shown in the the following example.
  *
  * {@example common/ngIf/ts/module.ts region='NgIfAs'}
  *
- * Notice that:
- *  - We use only one `async` pipe and hence only one subscription gets created.
- *  - `ngIf` stores the result of the `userStream|async` in the local variable `user`.
- *  - The local `user` can then be bound repeatedly in a more efficient way.
- *  - No need to use the safe-traversal-operator `?.` to access properties as `ngIf` will only
- *    display the data if `userStream` returns a value.
- *  - We can display an alternative template while waiting for the data.
+ * This code uses only one `AsyncPipe`, so only one subscription is created.
+ * The conditional statement stores the result of `userStream|async` in the local variable `user`.
+ * You can then bind the local `user` repeatedly.
  *
- * ### Syntax
+ * The conditional displays the data only if `userStream` returns a value,
+ * so you don't need to use the
+ * [safe-navigation-operator](guide/template-syntax#safe-navigation-operator) (`?.`)
+ * to guard against null values when accessing properties.
+ * You can display an alternative template while waiting for the data.
  *
- * Simple form:
- * - `<div *ngIf="condition">...</div>`
- * - `<ng-template [ngIf]="condition"><div>...</div></ng-template>`
+ * ### Shorthand syntax
  *
- * Form with an else block:
- * ```
- * <div *ngIf="condition; else elseBlock">...</div>
- * <ng-template #elseBlock>...</ng-template>
- * ```
+ * The shorthand syntax `*ngIf` expands into two separate template specifications
+ * for the "then" and "else" clauses. For example, consider the following shorthand statement,
+ * that is meant to show a loading page while waiting for data to be loaded.
  *
- * Form with a `then` and `else` block:
  * ```
- * <div *ngIf="condition; then thenBlock else elseBlock"></div>
- * <ng-template #thenBlock>...</ng-template>
- * <ng-template #elseBlock>...</ng-template>
+ * <div class="hero-list" *ngIf="heroes else loading">
+ *  ...
+ * </div>
+ *
+ * <ng-template #loading>
+ *  <div>Loading...</div>
+ * </ng-template>
  * ```
  *
- * Form with storing the value locally:
+ * You can see that the "else" clause references the `<ng-template>`
+ * with the `#loading` label, and the template for the "then" clause
+ * is provided as the content of the anchor element.
+ *
+ * However, when Angular expands the shorthand syntax, it creates
+ * another `<ng-template>` tag, with `ngIf` and `ngIfElse` directives.
+ * The anchor element containing the template for the "then" clause becomes
+ * the content of this unlabeled `<ng-template>` tag.
+ *
  * ```
- * <div *ngIf="condition as value; else elseBlock">{{value}}</div>
- * <ng-template #elseBlock>...</ng-template>
+ * <ng-template [ngIf]="hero-list" [ngIfElse]="loading">
+ *  <div class="hero-list">
+ *   ...
+ *  </div>
+ * </ng-template>
+ *
+ * <ng-template #loading>
+ *  <div>Loading...</div>
+ * </ng-template>
  * ```
  *
+ * The presence of the implicit template object has implications for the nesting of
+ * structural directives. For more on this subject, see
+ * [Structural Directives](https://angular.io/guide/structural-directives#one-per-element).
+ *
  * @ngModule CommonModule
  * @publicApi
  */
@@ -114,12 +160,18 @@ export class NgIf {
     this._thenTemplateRef = templateRef;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The Boolean expression to evaluate as the condition for showing a template.
+   */
   @Input()
   set ngIf(condition: any) {
     this._context.$implicit = this._context.ngIf = condition;
     this._updateView();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * A template to show if the condition expression evaluates to true.
+   */
   @Input()
   set ngIfThen(templateRef: TemplateRef<NgIfContext>|null) {
     assertTemplate('ngIfThen', templateRef);
@@ -128,6 +180,9 @@ export class NgIf {
     this._updateView();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * A template to show if the condition expression evaluates to false.
+   */
   @Input()
   set ngIfElse(templateRef: TemplateRef<NgIfContext>|null) {
     assertTemplate('ngIfElse', templateRef);