Nowadays, there are quite a few web development frameworks available. Node.js and React, for example, certainly rank among the most popular ones. But another framework has been making strides over the last few years: Vue.js. So, this article will cover all aspects of Vue. What it is, its features, and its architecture. We’ll discuss some of its most frequently asked questions and popular tools. Let’s jump in!
Launched in 2014, Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework for web interfaces (UIs). Created by Ewan You, it's open-source and written in TypeScript. Mainly, its uses focus on front-end development. According to Stack Overflow, it is the sixth most used web framework by devs. In this context, approx 300K websites use Vue.js.
Now that you know what we’re talking about, let’s look at what this tool can do:
● Standalone scripts.
● Mobile apps with Ionic Vue.
● Embedded web components.
● Single-page applications (SPAs).
● Desktop apps with Electron or Tauri.
● Cross-platform apps with Quasar.
As you can see above, Vue.js is quite flexible. It is not surprising that it's a part of so many projects. Some apps developed with Vue.js include Netflix, Grammarly, and GitLab. Xiaomi, Trivago, Nintendo, and Apple are other examples of this framework.
Vue.js has a modular architecture. Due to it, individual functionalities don't disrupt the overall architecture. Moreover, it lies on an MVVM architecture pattern. Model-View-ViewModel architecture divides program logic from UI controls. In turn, it helps organize the code. Here, programs broke into modules to simplify and speed up dev and update processes.
Let's break this pattern down.
This layer of the pattern is in charge of abstracting data sources. It works together with ViewModel to get and save data.
The view is the front face or presentation layer of the app. It handles the display of data to the user. It also informs the ViewModel of the users' actions.
Also called "presentation logic," this is the logic of the view. It serves as a link between the model and the view.
Now that we know Vue.js' architecture, let’s cover some key concepts and features.
The Virtual DOM copies the site's actual DOM. This procedure allows Vue.js to upload the real DOM with recent changes. Thus, it's unnecessary to revisit the whole DOM with each small change to the site.
Vue.js uses a one-way data flow between components. As a result, the data flow is more manageable, and the framework becomes more flexible.
This feature handles complex logic and operations. Here, computed properties are similar to Vue.js’ methods. These properties declaratively describe "how to derive a value based on other values." They are highly reactive and updated whenever the values change. A thing to note is that computed properties should never try to change variables outside their scope. You can find more info on computed properties here and here.
Within the framework, components help create custom elements in Vue.js. With these, Vue.js allows HTML's reuse of said elements.
These HTML-based templates bind the rendered DOM to Vue information or instance data. You can find more information about Vue templates here.
Vue.js offers various methods to perform transitions. These processes apply when introducing, changing, or deleting HTML elements. The framework has two built-in transition components: Transition and TransitionGroup. The Transition component may look like a regular HTML tag. Yet, they have extra features like enter and leave animations. It also can change the behavior of the animation. You can look at Vue.js’ documentation for more details.
You don’t need extensive TypeScript or JSX knowledge to navigate Vue. Vue.js is perfect for beginners with basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.
The framework is tiny, with a downloadable file of just 18KB. So, both download and setup will be quick. This feature also enhances the creation of a responsive UX. Moreover, it does wonders for SEO rankings.
Vue.js has a healthy and extensive ecosystem. The framework has its router, a browser dev tools extension, and a state manager called Vuex. You can find more information on Vue’s ecosystem in this article.
Major institutions and companies—such as Google and MIT— use Vue. Thus, the framework is well-documented.
Vue has a fantastic community behind it that is always happy to help developers in need. The framework itself rose from crowdfunding. So, it makes sense it has considerable community support. Not to mention it has a colossal backup from companies such as Facebook and Google. When working with Vue.js, you will find many guides and a very active channel on Reddit. And, of course, thousands of answered questions on Stack Overflow.
As we've mentioned at the beginning, Vue is for the front end.
We mentioned a handful already, but if you are looking for more, Adobe, BMW, and Upwork are great examples.
Vue.js is a great tool, but there are a couple of instances when it’s best to find an alternative:
● When your project is rather extensive, given the framework is relatively new.
● If you need seasoned developers. Again, Vue is a relatively new tool. Thus, people won't have many years of experience with the framework.
React—also known as ReactJS or React.js—is an open-source, front-end JavaScript library. Like Vue, React builds dynamic user interfaces for the web. React is a top-rated tool. Its main features are that it’s declarative, simple, and supports the server side. Plus, it’s fast and easy to learn and also component-based. You can learn more about React in this article.
So, will Vue.js overtake React? There is no straightforward answer to this question, as devs have yet to reach a consensus. Vue.js has gained popularity over the last few years, but React is still in the lead. The two technologies have their pros and cons. Vue aims at beginners, while React requires a more in-depth knowledge of JavaScript. While Vue.js offers better performance, React has a more comprehensive ecosystem. Finally, Vue has an easier-to-use interface, but React provides more API choices. Only time will tell if one of the two tools makes the other one disappear. For now, it’s a matter of which one is a better fit for your project.
Angular is an open-source web development framework. Mainly, its uses enclose single-page web app creation. The framework's bases are HTML and TypeScript. Plus, Angular is easy to learn, reduces line coding, and uses two-way data binding. Now that we know what we're comparing, let's see what these two frameworks have in common and what sets them apart.
Both frameworks use templates and model binding. They also share loops, conditionals, and even binding. Finally, both Vue and Angular have strong developer communities behind them. Yet, while Vue uses MVVM architecture, Angular uses the MVC pattern. In this context, Vue is easier to learn, performs better, and is faster than Angular. On Angular's assets, the framework is more scalable and includes better testing tools. Also, it has a more defined app architecture.
So what conclusions can we draw from this? Vue is the best choice for beginners and developers interested in optimizing performance. Meanwhile, Angular thrives when dealing with complex enterprises. These projects encompass web apps such as PWAs and single-page apps.
Plain JavaScript—also called Vanilla.js—is a library or framework-free JS. So is using Vue.js better than sticking to the JS programming language? You might start to notice a trend here: it depends on what you’re working on. If you need to develop your website or app fast, a framework will help you save time. So, Vue would be the way to go. If time is not an issue and performance is vital, you might be better off using plain old Vanilla.js.
Laravel is a PHP framework for web app development with "expressive, elegant syntax." This backend framework makes web apps more scalable. Moreover, it saves design time and is great for organizing and managing resources. Combining it with Vue.js gives you a full-stack solution that optimizes the UI. You'd be combining Vue's speed and performance with Laravel's dependability and stability.
As we've mentioned at the beginning of this article, Vue.js emerged from TypeScript. Thus, it's logical that it works well with this programming language. TypeScript is excellent for detecting common errors, thus reducing runtime errors in production. It's also beneficial when it comes to component communication.
If you enjoy using Python, consider combining it with Vue! Python is a prevalent language with several uses beyond software development. Its applications also include data science and workflow optimization. You can use the Django Python web framework to focus on the backend while working with Vue for the front end.
Vue.js also offers combinations with the Ruby on Rails framework. Rails is a full-stack web framework. Yet, using it for the backend with Vue.js for the front end can combine the best of both worlds. You can see how Vue and Rails work together.
Vue.js certainly has a lot going for it. The web framework is lightweight and has excellent ecosystems and short learning curves. Further, you can combine it with other frameworks or languages to get even more benefits. It’s true that Vue still has some way to go compared to other frameworks like React. But it is definitely worth considering for your web projects. We hope this article helped determine if Vue is the right choice for you and your team!
