Directive template compilation failed

When you encounter a “Directive template compilation failed” error in AngularJS, it usually means there is an issue in the directive’s template, such as:

1. Incorrect syntax in the template
2. Missing required dependencies (like $compile or $scope)
3. Invalid HTML structure inside the directive
4. Misconfigured directive definition
5. Conflicts with other directives or modules

---

1️⃣ Common Causes & Fixes

Cause 1: Incorrect HTML in Template

If your directive template has an invalid or missing closing tag, AngularJS may fail to compile it.

Problematic Directive

app.directive("myDirective", function() {
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        template: "<h2>Welcome <span>{{ name }}</h2>",  // ❌ Missing closing </span>
        scope: {
            name: "@"
        }
    };
});

Solution

Fix the incorrect HTML structure:

template: "<h2>Welcome <span>{{ name }}</span></h2>"

---

Cause 2: Template URL Not Found

If you’re using templateUrl but the file is missing or not properly loaded, Angular will fail to compile the directive.

Problematic Code

app.directive("myDirective", function() {
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        templateUrl: "views/my-template.html",  // ❌ File may not exist
        scope: {}
    };
});

Solution

1. Make sure views/my-template.html exists.
2. Ensure your server correctly serves .html files.
3. Use $http to check if the file is accessible: javascriptCopyEdit$http.get("views/my-template.html") .then(function(response) { console.log("Template Loaded Successfully"); }) .catch(function(error) { console.error("Template Load Failed", error); });
4. Try using an inline template instead: javascriptCopyEdittemplate: "<p>Inline template as a fallback.</p>"

---

Cause 3: Using template and templateUrl Together

You should use either template or templateUrl, but not both.

Problematic Code

app.directive("myDirective", function() {
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        template: "<h1>Inline Template</h1>",
        templateUrl: "views/my-template.html"  //  Conflict
    };
});

Solution

Remove one of them:

app.directive("myDirective", function() {
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        templateUrl: "views/my-template.html"
    };
});

---

Cause 4: Invalid Scope Bindings

If your directive expects isolated scope bindings but doesn’t receive them properly, it can fail to compile.

Problematic Code

app.directive("myDirective", function() {
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        scope: {
            name: "@"  // Expecting a string
        },
        template: "<h2>{{ name }}</h2>"
    };
});

<!--  No name attribute provided -->
<my-directive></my-directive>

Solution

Provide the expected attribute in the HTML:

<my-directive name="John Doe"></my-directive>

---

Cause 5: Dependencies Not Injected Properly

If you forget to inject necessary dependencies like $compile, AngularJS may fail to compile the directive.

Problematic Code

app.directive("myDirective", function($scope) {  // ❌ Wrong dependency
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        template: "<h2>Hello, {{ name }}</h2>",
        scope: {
            name: "@"
        }
    };
});

Solution

Make sure $scope is used inside a controller, not a directive:

app.directive("myDirective", function() {  // ✅ No unnecessary dependency
    return {
        restrict: "E",
        template: "<h2>Hello, {{ name }}</h2>",
        scope: {
            name: "@"
        }
    };
});

---

2️⃣ Debugging Steps

1. Check the console (F12 → Console Tab) for AngularJS errors.
2. Verify the directive’s template or templateUrl is correct.
3. Ensure no syntax errors exist in the directive.
4. Use console.log($scope) inside the directive to check for scope issues.
5. Test with an inline template instead of templateUrl.