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In this section, we will explore how to enhance your Ionic applications by integrating native device functionalities using Ionic Native and Cordova plugins. This will allow your app to access device features such as the camera, GPS, and more.

Key Concepts

Ionic Native: A curated set of wrappers for Cordova plugins that make it easy to use native device features in your Ionic applications.
Cordova Plugins: Plugins that provide access to native device capabilities using JavaScript.

Why Use Ionic Native and Cordova Plugins?

Access Native Features: Utilize device hardware like the camera, GPS, and accelerometer.
Enhanced Performance: Native plugins can offer better performance compared to web-based solutions.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Write once, run on multiple platforms (iOS, Android).

Setting Up Ionic Native and Cordova Plugins

Step 1: Install Ionic Native and Cordova Plugin

For this example, we will use the Camera plugin.

Install the Cordova Plugin:

ionic cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-camera

Install the Ionic Native Wrapper:
```
npm install @ionic-native/camera
```

Step 2: Add the Plugin to Your App Module

Open src/app/app.module.ts and add the Camera module to your providers.

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { RouteReuseStrategy } from '@angular/router';
import { IonicModule, IonicRouteStrategy } from '@ionic/angular';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { AppRoutingModule } from './app-routing.module';
import { Camera } from '@ionic-native/camera/ngx';

@NgModule({
  declarations: [AppComponent],
  entryComponents: [],
  imports: [BrowserModule, IonicModule.forRoot(), AppRoutingModule],
  providers: [
    { provide: RouteReuseStrategy, useClass: IonicRouteStrategy },
    Camera
  ],
  bootstrap: [AppComponent],
})
export class AppModule {}

Step 3: Using the Plugin in Your Component

Open the component where you want to use the Camera plugin, for example, src/app/home/home.page.ts.

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { Camera, CameraOptions } from '@ionic-native/camera/ngx';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-home',
  templateUrl: 'home.page.html',
  styleUrls: ['home.page.scss'],
})
export class HomePage {
  currentImage: any;

  constructor(private camera: Camera) {}

  takePicture() {
    const options: CameraOptions = {
      quality: 100,
      destinationType: this.camera.DestinationType.DATA_URL,
      encodingType: this.camera.EncodingType.JPEG,
      mediaType: this.camera.MediaType.PICTURE
    };

    this.camera.getPicture(options).then((imageData) => {
      this.currentImage = 'data:image/jpeg;base64,' + imageData;
    }, (err) => {
      console.log("Camera issue:" + err);
    });
  }
}

Step 4: Update the Template

Update the template file src/app/home/home.page.html to include a button to take a picture and display the image.

<ion-header>
  <ion-toolbar>
    <ion-title>
      Home
    </ion-title>
  </ion-toolbar>
</ion-header>

<ion-content>
  <ion-button (click)="takePicture()">Take Picture</ion-button>
  <img *ngIf="currentImage" [src]="currentImage" />
</ion-content>

Practical Exercise

Task

Install and Configure the Geolocation Plugin:
- Install the Cordova plugin and Ionic Native wrapper for Geolocation.
- Configure the plugin in your app module.
- Create a method in your component to get the current location and display it.

Solution

Install the Cordova Plugin:

ionic cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-geolocation

Install the Ionic Native Wrapper:
```
npm install @ionic-native/geolocation
```

Add the Plugin to Your App Module:

import { Geolocation } from '@ionic-native/geolocation/ngx';

@NgModule({
  providers: [
    Geolocation
  ],
})

Use the Plugin in Your Component:

import { Geolocation } from '@ionic-native/geolocation/ngx';

constructor(private geolocation: Geolocation) {}

getCurrentLocation() {
  this.geolocation.getCurrentPosition().then((resp) => {
    console.log('Latitude: ' + resp.coords.latitude);
    console.log('Longitude: ' + resp.coords.longitude);
  }).catch((error) => {
    console.log('Error getting location', error);
  });
}

Update the Template:

<ion-button (click)="getCurrentLocation()">Get Location</ion-button>

Common Mistakes and Tips

Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions configured in your config.xml and platform-specific settings.
Error Handling: Always include error handling when using plugins to manage potential issues gracefully.
Testing on Device: Some plugins require testing on a physical device rather than an emulator.

Conclusion

In this section, you learned how to integrate Ionic Native and Cordova plugins into your Ionic application. You now have the skills to access native device features, enhancing the functionality and user experience of your app. In the next section, we will explore how to handle forms and validation in Ionic.

Using Ionic Native and Cordova Plugins

Key Concepts

Why Use Ionic Native and Cordova Plugins?

Setting Up Ionic Native and Cordova Plugins

Step 1: Install Ionic Native and Cordova Plugin

Step 2: Add the Plugin to Your App Module

Step 3: Using the Plugin in Your Component

Step 4: Update the Template

Practical Exercise

Task

Solution

Common Mistakes and Tips

Conclusion

Ionic Development Course

Module 1: Introduction to Ionic

Module 2: Basic Components and Navigation

Module 3: Styling and Theming

Module 4: Working with Data

Module 5: Advanced Components and Features

Module 6: Testing and Deployment

Module 7: Advanced Topics