AngularJS controller scope.md

Basic examples of scope in a controller... Local variable, $scope variable, each with corresponding functions and unit tests.

sampleSimpleController.js

'use strict';

angular.module('Sample.Controllers', [])
.controller('SampleSimpleController', function($rootScope, $scope) {
    console.log('SampleSimpleController()');
    this.testThisVar = 'Test this var';
    $scope.testScopeVar = 'Test scope var';
    this.appendTestThisVar = function(addString) {
        this.testThisVar = this.testThisVar + ' + ' + addString;
    };
    $scope.appendTestScopeVar = function(addString) {
        $scope.testScopeVar = $scope.testScopeVar + ' + ' + addString;
    };
});

sampleSimpleControllerSpec.js

'use strict';

describe('Sample Controllers', function() {

    beforeEach(function() {
        module('Sample.Controllers');
    });

    describe('SampleSimpleController', function() {
        var scope, controller;

        beforeEach(inject(function($rootScope, $controller) {
            scope = $rootScope.$new();
            controller = $controller('SampleSimpleController', {
                $scope: scope
            });
        }));

        it('should have a SampleSimpleController controller', function() {
            console.log('controller: ' + angular.toJson(controller));
            expect(controller).toBeDefined();
        });

        it('should have a this variable', function() {
            console.log('testThisVar: ' + controller.testThisVar);
            expect(controller.testThisVar).toBeDefined();
        });

        it('should append this variable', function() {
            console.log('testThisVar (before): ' + controller.testThisVar);

            controller.appendTestThisVar('added string');
            console.log('testThisVar (after): ' + controller.testThisVar);

            expect(controller.testThisVar).toEqual('Test this var + added string');
        });

        it('should have a scope variable', function() {
            console.log('testScopeVar: ' + scope.testScopeVar);
            expect(scope.testScopeVar).toBeDefined();
        });

        it('should append scope variable', function() {
            console.log('testScopeVar (before): ' + scope.testScopeVar);

            scope.appendTestScopeVar('added string');
            console.log('testScopeVar (after): ' + scope.testScopeVar);

            expect(scope.testScopeVar).toEqual('Test scope var + added string');
        });
    });

});