If you are an Angular developer who uses Material Design, you might have come across the error "mat icon is not a known element" while trying to use the mat-icon component in your code. This error occurs when Angular cannot find the MatIconModule module, which contains the definition for the mat-icon component.
In this guide, we will provide you with some troubleshooting tips to help you fix this error and get your application up and running.
Possible causes of the 'mat icon is not a known element' error
Before we dive into the solutions, let's take a quick look at some of the possible causes of this error:
Missing or outdated dependencies: The MatIconModule module is part of the @angular/material package. If this package is missing or outdated, Angular will not be able to find the mat-icon component.
Incorrect import statement: If you are not importing the MatIconModule module correctly in your code, Angular will not be able to find the mat-icon component.
Typo or syntax error: If you have made a typo or syntax error in your code, Angular will not be able to find the mat-icon component.
Now that we have identified some of the possible causes of the error, let's move on to the solutions.
Solution 1: Install or update the @angular/material package
The first solution is to make sure that you have installed the @angular/material package and that it is up to date. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:
npm install @angular/material
If you already have the @angular/material package installed, you can update it to the latest version by running the following command:
npm update @angular/material
Once you have installed or updated the package, make sure to import the MatIconModule module in your code as follows:
import { MatIconModule } from '@angular/material/icon';
Solution 2: Check your import statement
If you have already installed the @angular/material package and are still getting the 'mat icon is not a known element' error, the next solution is to check your import statement. Make sure that you are importing the MatIconModule module correctly in your code.
import { MatIconModule } from '@angular/material/icon';
Solution 3: Check for typos and syntax errors
If the first two solutions did not work, it's possible that you have made a typo or syntax error in your code. Check your code for any typos or syntax errors, and make sure that the mat-icon component is spelled correctly.
FAQs
Q1: What is the mat-icon component?
The mat-icon component is part of the Material Design components for Angular. It allows you to add icons to your application using Material Design icons.
Q2: What is the @angular/material package?
The @angular/material package is a collection of Material Design components for Angular. It includes components like buttons, cards, and icons.
Q3: How do I use Material Design icons in my Angular application?
To use Material Design icons in your Angular application, you need to first install the @angular/material package and then import the MatIconModule module in your code. You can then use the mat-icon component to add icons to your application.
Q4: Can I use custom icons with the mat-icon component?
Yes, you can use custom icons with the mat-icon component. You can either use SVG icons or font icons like Font Awesome.
Q5: What are some other common errors that Angular developers might encounter?
Some other common errors that Angular developers might encounter include "Cannot find module", "Template parse errors", and "Expression has changed after it was checked".