Difference between Service, Factory and Provider in AngularJS

gistfile1.js

// Source: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/angular/hVrkvaHGOfc
// jsFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/pkozlowski_opensource/PxdSP/14/
// author: Pawel Kozlowski

var myApp = angular.module('myApp', []);

//service style, probably the simplest one
myApp.service('helloWorldFromService', function() {
    this.sayHello = function() {
        return "Hello, World!"
    };
});

//factory style, more involved but more sophisticated
myApp.factory('helloWorldFromFactory', function() {
    return {
        sayHello: function() {
            return "Hello, World!"
        }
    };
});
    
//provider style, full blown, configurable version     
myApp.provider('helloWorld', function() {
    // In the provider function, you cannot inject any
    // service or factory. This can only be done at the
    // "$get" method.

    this.name = 'Default';

    this.$get = function() {
        var name = this.name;
        return {
            sayHello: function() {
                return "Hello, " + name + "!"
            }
        }
    };

    this.setName = function(name) {
        this.name = name;
    };
});

//hey, we can configure a provider!            
myApp.config(function(helloWorldProvider){
    helloWorldProvider.setName('World');
});
        

function MyCtrl($scope, helloWorld, helloWorldFromFactory, helloWorldFromService) {
    
    $scope.hellos = [
        helloWorld.sayHello(),
        helloWorldFromFactory.sayHello(),
        helloWorldFromService.sayHello()];
}​

@Mithrandir0x, thank you for the example!
If we need a service and we define it using the "factory" method, is it write or false?

https://github.com/SAM-BI/jira-rest-angular

Thanks, this is very helpful. :)

Thanks much for the explanation. would you tell me, where to use which, I mean, how to make a right choice among them?
Appreciate your time

Thanks for the helpful example.

very thanks

Many Thanks !

Nice explanation about Service / Provider / Factory, Very useful, Thank you very much !

Nice Explanation. Helpful