Newbe Dev Stack

Answer : passing text is one-way binding(@) and passing object is two-way binding(=) passing object as text <custom-directive config="{{config}}"></custom-directive> scope in directive scope: { config: "@" } converting the string back to object in link var config = angular.fromJson(scope.config); You are correct, the issue is that your JavaScript objects are being passed by reference. Using a one-way binding copies the reference, but the reference will still point to the same object. My impression from the Angular docs for directives has always been: The '@' binding is intended for interpolated strings The '=' binding is intended for structured data that should be shared between scopes The '&' binding is intended for repeatedly executing an expression that is bound to the parent scope If you want to treat the bound object from the parent as immutable, you can create a deep copy the objects inside y...

Answer : Angular doesn't know about that change. For this you should call $scope.$digest() or make the change inside of $scope.$apply() : $scope.$apply(function() { // every changes goes here $('#selectedDueDate').val(dateText); }); See this to better understand dirty-checking UPDATE : Here is an example Just use; $('#selectedDueDate').val(dateText).trigger('input'); I have found that if you don't put the variable directly against the scope it updates more reliably. Try using some "dateObj.selectedDate" and in the controller add the selectedDate to a dateObj object as so: $scope.dateObj = {selectedDate: new Date()} This worked for me.