Angular is an open-source front-end web development platform for building dynamic single-page applications. It was developed and is maintained by Google. Traditional web applications run from the server, requiring the client to request pages from the server on each user interaction. Single-page applications handle requests and rendering on the client-side using JavaScript, only requiring the server when data needs processing or business logic execution. Angular has evolved through several versions since its initial release in 2010. It is now a TypeScript-based framework that supports progressive web apps and mobile development. Major companies like Google, PayPal, and Microsoft use Angular for its component-based architecture, cross-platform capabilities, and productivity benefits.