Observables

Observables are a programming pattern for handling asynchronous data streams, commonly used in reactive programming. They represent a sequence of values over time that can be subscribed to, allowing developers to react to emitted data, errors, or completion events. This pattern is widely implemented in libraries like RxJS for JavaScript and is foundational in frameworks such as Angular.

Also known as: Observable pattern, Reactive streams, Rx, ReactiveX, Observable objects

Why learn Observables?

Developers should learn Observables when building applications that require handling real-time data, event-driven architectures, or complex asynchronous operations, such as user interactions, API calls, or WebSocket connections. They are particularly useful in front-end development for managing state changes and data flow in a declarative manner, improving code readability and maintainability compared to traditional callbacks or promises.

Learning Resources

• docs: RxJS Documentation
• tutorial: ReactiveX Introduction
• docs: Angular Observables Guide
• tutorial: Observables in JavaScript - freeCodeCamp
• course: Reactive Programming with RxJS - Udemy Course