when to use link function and compile function in angularjs?

Question

I am still confuse where to use link and compile function.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

From this SO Answer

compile function - use for template DOM manipulation (i.e., manipulation of tElement = template element), hence manipulations that apply to all DOM clones of the template associated with the directive.

link function - use for registering DOM listeners (i.e., $watch expressions on the instance scope) as well as instance DOM manipulation (i.e., manipulation of iElement = individual instance element).

Answer 2

The link function is used in a directive.

The params of the link function reference the element the directive is attached to.

link: function(scope, element, attr)

Element here is the HTML element. and attr refers to the attributes of the HTML element

So you could do element.text('fred');

To set the text of the element to 'fred' and so on.

$compile I am not so familiar