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# Template expression operators
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< div class = "callout is-critical" >
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< header > Marked for archiving< / header >
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To ensure that you have the best experience possible, this topic is marked for archiving until we determine that it clearly conveys the most accurate information possible.
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In the meantime, this topic might be helpful: [Hierarchical injectors ](guide/hierarchical-dependency-injection ).
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If you think this content should not be archived, please file a [GitHub issue ](https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/new?template=3-docs-bug.md ).
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< / div >
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The Angular template expression language employs a subset of JavaScript syntax supplemented with a few special operators
for specific scenarios.
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< div class = "alert is-helpful" >
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See the < live-example > < / live-example > for a working example containing the code snippets in this guide.
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< / div >
{@a non-null-assertion-operator}
## The non-null assertion operator ( `!` )
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When you use TypeScript's `--strictNullChecks` flag, you can prevent the type checker from throwing an error with Angular's non-null assertion operator, `!` .
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The Angular non-null assertion operator causes the TypeScript type checker to suspend strict `null` and `undefined` checks for a specific property expression.
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For example, you can assert that `item` properties are also defined.
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< code-example path = "template-expression-operators/src/app/app.component.html" region = "non-null" header = "src/app/app.component.html" > < / code-example >
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Often, you want to make sure that any property bindings aren't `null` or `undefined` .
However, there are situations in which such states are acceptable.
For those situations, you can use Angular's non-null assertion operator to prevent TypeScript from reporting that a property is `null` or `undefined` .
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The non-null assertion operator, `!` , is optional unless you turn on strict null checks.
For more information, see TypeScript's [strict null checking ](http://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/release-notes/typescript-2-0.html "Strict null checking in TypeScript" ).
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{@a any-type-cast-function}
## The `$any()` type cast function
Sometimes a binding expression triggers a type error during [AOT compilation ](guide/aot-compiler ) and it is not possible or difficult to fully specify the type.
To silence the error, you can use the `$any()` cast function to cast
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the expression to the [`any` type ](https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/basic-types.html#any ) as in the following example:
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< code-example path = "built-in-template-functions/src/app/app.component.html" region = "any-type-cast-function-1" header = "src/app/app.component.html" > < / code-example >
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Using `$any()` prevents TypeScript from reporting that `bestByDate` is not a member of the `item` object.
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The `$any()` cast function also works with `this` to allow access to undeclared members of the component.
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< code-example path = "built-in-template-functions/src/app/app.component.html" region = "any-type-cast-function-2" header = "src/app/app.component.html" > < / code-example >
The `$any()` cast function works anywhere in a binding expression where a method call is valid.