Angular Signals vs Observables — What I Really Learned

Source: Dev.to

Signals vs Observables Overview

• Signals are about state.
• Observables are about streams over time.

When Signals Shine

• Local component state
• Derived values
• Template‑driven reactivity

Characteristics of Signals

• Synchronous
• Explicit
• Easy to trace

When a signal changes, Angular knows exactly what to update, making components:

• Smaller
• Easier to reason about
• Less dependent on RxJS operators

When Observables Remain the Right Tool

• HTTP requests
• User events
• WebSockets
• Async workflows

Key Observable Features

• subscribe
• switchMap
• retry
• debounceTime

Trying to replace Observables with Signals in these scenarios only adds confusion.

The Most Important Lesson

The real improvement wasn’t performance—it was clarity. Instead of forcing RxJS everywhere, I now ask:

• Is this state? → Signal
• Is this async over time? → Observable

That single question improved readability, maintainability, and team communication.

How I Use Them Together

1. Fetch data with Observables.
2. Convert results into Signals.
3. Let Signals drive the UI.

This combination feels natural and balanced. Angular didn’t lose power, and Signals didn’t make Observables obsolete—and for me, that’s the real win.