Ahead of Time (AOT) Compilation is a process in Angular where the components and templates are compiled at build time, before the application is served to the user. This differs from Just-In-Time (JIT) Compilation, where the compilation takes place when the application is loaded in the browser.
AOT has several benefits over JIT:
1. Faster Loading: The AOT compiled code is smaller, optimized, and faster to download, resulting in faster loading times for the user.
2. Improved Security: With AOT, the templates and components are already compiled and transformed into JavaScript, making it harder for attackers to inject malicious code into the application.
3. Better Performance: Since the code is compiled ahead of time, the browser can run the application faster, as it doesn't have to compile the code on-the-fly.
4. Early Error Detection: With AOT, errors can be detected early in the development process, as the compilation takes place at build time, rather than at runtime.
AOT is the default compilation process in Angular and is highly recommended for production applications, as it results in faster, more secure, and higher-performing applications.