What is `priority` of ng-repeat directive can you

Question

Angular Documentation says: -

The compilation of the DOM is performed by the call to the $compile() method. The method traverses the DOM and matches the directives. If a match is found it is added to the list of directives associated with the given DOM element. Once all directives for a given DOM element have been identified they are sorted by priority and their compile() functions are executed.

The ng-repeat directive I believe has a lower priority than custom directives, in certain use cases like dynamic id and custom directive. Does angular permit tinkering with priority of directives to choose execution of one before the other?

Answer 1

AngularJS finds all directives associated with an element and processes it. This option tells angular to sort directives by priority so a directive having higher priority will be compiled or linked before others. The reason for having this option is that we can perform conditional check on the output of the previous directive compiled.

In the followed example, first add button and only after add class to current button:

Demo Fiddle

App.directive('btn', function() {
  return {
    restrict: 'A',
    priority: 1,
    link: function(scope, element, attrs) {
      element.addClass('btn');
    }
  };
});

App.directive('primary', function() {
  return {
    restrict: 'A',
    priority: 0,
    link: function(scope, element, attrs) {
      if (element.hasClass('btn')) {
        element.addClass('btn-primary');
      }
    }
  };
});

Answer 2

Yes, you can set the priority of a directive. ng-repeat has a priority of 1000, which is actually higher than custom directives (default priority is 0). You can use this number as a guide for how to set your own priority on your directives in relation to it.

angular.module('x').directive('customPriority', function() {
    return {
        priority: 1001,
        restrict: 'E',
        compile: function () {
            return function () {...}
        }
    }
})

priority - When there are multiple directives defined on a single DOM element, sometimes it is necessary to specify the order in which the directives are applied. The priority is used to sort the directives before their compile functions get called. Priority is defined as a number. Directives with greater numerical priority are compiled first. The order of directives with the same priority is undefined. The default priority is 0.