How it works
Vue components are usually written as single-file components: one .vue file holding the template (HTML), the script and the styles. Its reactivity system tracks which data each part of the page uses, so when a value changes only the dependent parts update. The Composition API (with ref and computed) is the modern way to write logic, while the older Options API still works.
Vue was created by Evan You and is run as an independent, sponsor-funded project rather than by a big company. The official pieces cover most needs: Vue Router for pages, Pinia for shared state, and Nuxt for server rendering. It can also be dropped into an existing page with a script tag, which makes it popular for modernising older server-rendered sites one piece at a time.
Vue pros and cons
Pros
- Gentle learning curve and very clear official docs
- Official router, state library and devtools that fit together
- Single-file components keep template, logic and styles in one place
- Can be added to an existing page without a build step
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem and hiring pool than React
- Fewer ready-made UI kits in some niches
- Older tutorials mix two API styles (Options and Composition)
When to use Vue
Pick it when
- Teams that want a productive framework with less to learn
- Upgrading a server-rendered site, such as a Laravel app, piece by piece
- Full apps with Nuxt when server rendering is needed
Skip it when
- You depend on a React-only library or UI kit
Vue pricing
Vue vs the alternatives
Related terms
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Frameworks