In dagger.js interpolation is scoped to attributes and text nodes — anywhere you put ${…} inside the HTML markup, the expression is evaluated against the current directive scope. In your sample code, winner is looked up from the nearest +load directive context. Interpolation isn’t “everywhere” JS-style, it’s only applied to the DOM text/attribute content that Dagger processes. Actually it's standard string template in JS. You may also use the text directive instead to avoid using inline expression: <div class="text" text="`${ winner ? 'Wins' : 'Draw' }!`"> </div>