Angular is a powerful, open-source web application framework developed by Google, designed to facilitate the development of dynamic single-page applications (SPAs). By utilizing a component-based architecture, Angular enhances the way developers create apps by allowing them to build encapsulated components that manage their own state, making applications more modular and easier to maintain. This framework also incorporates features such as two-way data binding, dependency injection, and a robust CLI, which further streamline the development process and improve overall productivity.

The impact of Angular on the app development process is profound. With its emphasis on reusability and maintainability, developers can significantly reduce the time spent on troubleshooting and refining code. By leveraging Angular's built-in tools such as routing, forms management, and state management, teams can focus on creating sophisticated user experiences without getting bogged down by the complexity of underlying code. As a result, adopting Angular can not only accelerate project timelines but also lead to higher-quality applications that can adapt to changing requirements with ease.

Angular is a robust framework that offers a plethora of features to enhance app functionality. One of the standout features is its two-way data binding, which allows for automatic synchronization between the model and the view. This means that any changes made in the UI are reflected in the application data and vice versa, drastically reducing the need for boilerplate code. Additionally, Angular's dependency injection simplifies the development process by enabling multiple components to share services efficiently, promoting code reusability and maintainability.

Another key feature is the modular architecture, which allows developers to break down applications into smaller, manageable pieces called modules. This encourages better organization and enhances collaboration among multiple developers. Furthermore, Angular’s rich library of components equips developers with pre-built functionalities that expedite the app development process. Coupled with the use of RxJS for reactive programming, Angular applications can efficiently manage asynchronous data streams, ultimately leading to improved performance and user experience.

Building your first Angular application can seem daunting, but it's a rewarding experience that opens up a world of opportunities in web development. Angular is a powerful framework developed by Google that simplifies the process of constructing dynamic, single-page applications. To get started, you'll need to set up your development environment. Begin by installing Node.js, which includes the npm package manager that is essential for managing Angular packages. Once Node.js is installed, you can install Angular CLI by running the command npm install -g @angular/cli in your terminal, which will allow you to scaffold and manage your Angular projects efficiently.

With your environment set up, the next step is to create your first Angular application. Use the Angular CLI to generate a new project by executing ng new my-first-app. This command will create a directory with all the necessary files and folders, including default components and modules. After the project setup is complete, navigate into your project folder using cd my-first-app and start a local development server with ng serve. You can view your application in the browser at http://localhost:4200. Remember, building an application is an iterative process; don't hesitate to explore Angular's documentation and community resources as you progress.