I don’t fully understand what the when ngRoute router does, does it redirect?

Question

Angular

I'm just learning Angular.
But I don't understand what when does

phonecatApp.config(['$routeProvider',
  function($routeProvider) {
    $routeProvider.
      when('/phones', {
        templateUrl: 'partials/phone-list.html',
        controller: 'PhoneListCtrl'
      }).
      when('/phones/:phoneId', {
        templateUrl: 'partials/phone-detail.html',
        controller: 'PhoneDetailCtrl'
      }).
      otherwise({
        redirectTo: '/phones'
      });
  }]);

Are there addresses that it processes and if it does not find a redirect?
We specify the template for the redirect and the controller that will handle it.
I created a link on the site <a href="xxx.localhost/phones"></a>, I go to the page as usual, and if the controller is not specified on it, then angular does not process.
But on idea having followed this link it should apply PhoneListCtrl???

Answer 1

If the url is not in the when list, the code will work

otherwise({
        redirectTo: '/phones'
      });

Answer 2

<a href="xxx.localhost/#/phones"></a>
if html5mode is not enabled