Angularjs: ‘controller as syntax’ and $watch

Just bind the relevant context.

$scope.$watch(angular.bind(this, function () {
  return this.name;
}), function (newVal) {
  console.log('Name changed to ' + newVal);
});

Example: http://jsbin.com/yinadoce/1/edit

UPDATE:

Bogdan Gersak’s answer is actually kind of equivalent, both answers try binding this with the right context. However, I found his answer cleaner.

Having that said, first and foremost, you have to understand the underlying idea behind it.

UPDATE 2:

For those who use ES6, by using arrow function you get a function with the right context OOTB.

$scope.$watch(() => this.name, function (newVal) {
  console.log('Name changed to ' + newVal);
});

Example