$scope.ctrl = this OR controllerAs?

gistfile1.js

// OLD STYLE OF CONTROLLER CONSTRUCTOR

;(function() {
  angular.module('oldstyle', [])
    .controller('MainController', MainCtrl)

  function MainCtrl($scope) {
    $scope.MainCtrl = this
    this.users = {}
    this.userList = []
  }
  MainCtrl.$inject = ['$scope']

})()

// NEW WAY OF DOING CONSTRUCTOR, using controllerAs
// $scope is not explicitly referenced here
// in html: <div ng-controller="MainControllerAs as ctrl"></div>

;(function() {
  angular.module('newstyle', [])
    .controller('MainControllerAs', MainCtrlAs)

  function MainCtrlAs() {
    this.users = {}
    this.userList = []
  }

})()

// Before controllerAs, this is how we do it, assigning to $scope

;(function() {
  angular.module('newstyle', [])
    .controller('MainControllerScope', MainCtrlScope)

  function MainCtrlScope($scope) {
    // assign properties to $scope
    $scope.users = {}
    $scope.userList = []
  }
  MainCtrlScope.$inject = ['$scope']

})()