Tan Huynh Nhat

What is VueJS?

What is VueJS?

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Throughout the history of technological advancements, users have always sought software that can streamline their work. As technology progressed, software migrated to the web environment for enhanced accessibility, transcending platform limitations. This led to the birth of Server-Side Rendering (SSR).

With the evolution of technology, SSR gradually revealed its shortcomings, such as the need to reload when navigating to different pages within the same site. This reloading process consumes bandwidth by loading repetitive page elements. In the modern era, user demands have shifted towards a more seamless application experience. Consequently, Single Page App (SPA) frameworks and libraries emerged.

Today, we will delve into one such SPA framework, namely VueJS.

What is VueJS?

Vue (pronounced /vjuː/, like view) is a JavaScript framework for building user interfaces. It builds on top of standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and provides a declarative and component-based programming model that helps you efficiently develop user interfaces, be they simple or complex.

Vue is a Progressive Framework1. The framework and ecosystem that covers most of the common features needed in frontend development. But the web is extremely diverse – the things we build on the web may vary drastically in form and scale. With that in mind, Vue is designed to be flexible and incrementally adoptable. Depending on your use case, Vue can be used in different ways:

  • Enhancing static HTML without a build step
  • Embedding as Web Components on any page
  • Single-Page Application (SPA)
  • Fullstack / Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
  • Jamstack / Static Site Generation (SSG)
  • Targeting desktop, mobile, WebGL, and even the terminal

Why choose VueJS?

VueJS is an ideal choice for developers who want to build modern, high-performance, and maintainable web interfaces.

First, Easy to learn and use. VueJS has a simple and intuitive syntax, similar to vanilla JavaScript. The core concepts of VueJS are easy to grasp, making it a quick and easy framework to learn. VueJS has extensive documentation and a supportive community that can help you learn and troubleshoot.

Second, High Performance. VueJS has a small footprint, which helps to optimize page load times. VueJS uses efficient DOM diffing to update the user interface, saving resources and improving performance.

Third, Flexible and Extensible. VueJS provides a flexible component system that makes it easy to build complex interfaces. VueJS is highly extensible and can be easily integrated with other libraries and frameworks.

Fourth, Strong Development Community. VueJS has a large and active community of developers who are constantly contributing to the framework. The VueJS ecosystem is rich with libraries, plugins, and tools to support a variety of development needs.
Fifth, Suitable for Various Projects. VueJS can be used to build a wide range of web projects, from simple to complex. VueJS is widely used in a variety of industries, including websites, web applications, SPAs, PWAs, mobile apps,and more.

Who is use VueJS?

VueJS is used by a wide range of individuals and organizations, from individual developers to large corporations. Here’s a breakdown of some key user groups:

With Individual Developers, VueJS’s ease of learning and use makes it popular for solo developers working on smaller projects. VueJS offers a powerful and flexible toolkit for building modern and interactive web interfaces. VueJS builds on top of existing JavaScript knowledge, making it an easy transition for experienced developers.

With Organizations, VueJS’s fast development cycles and scalability make it ideal for companies that need to move quickly and efficiently. Large corporations like Alibaba, Netflix, and GitLab use VueJS for specific components or applications due to its performance and maintainability. Due to its versatility and popularity, VueJS is often used by agencies and consultancies working on diverse projects for different clients

With Specific Industries, VueJS can be used to build dynamic and user-friendly online stores. VueJS’s performance and security features make it suitable for financial applications. Interactive learning platforms and educational tools can be built with VueJS. Streaming services, social media platforms, and news websites often utilize VueJS.

When are we use VueJS?

VueJS can be a great choice for many different scenarios, here are some of the common use cases:

Building dynamic and interactive web interfaces:

  • Single-page applications (SPAs): VueJS excels at building SPAs, offering seamless navigation and responsiveness without full page reloads.
  • Progressive web apps (PWAs): VueJS can create PWAs that offer native-like experiences while still working offline and across devices.
  • Complex user interfaces: VueJS’s component-based structure makes it easy to build and manage complex UIs with reusable and maintainable code.
  • Data-driven applications: VueJS effectively handles dynamic data updates and provides features like computed properties and watchers for efficient data reactivity.

Enhancing existing websites:

  • Adding interactivity to static HTML pages: VueJS can be used incrementally to add dynamic elements and interactivity to existing websites without a full rewrite.
  • Building reusable components: VueJS allows you to create reusable components that can be easily integrated into existing websites or applications.
  • Progressive enhancement: You can progressively enhance basic HTML pages with VueJS components,improving the user experience for modern browsers while maintaining compatibility with older ones.

Other use cases:

  • Desktop and mobile apps: Frameworks like Electron can combine VueJS with native code to build desktop and mobile applications.
  • Game development: Libraries like Phaser can leverage VueJS for rendering UI elements and managing game logic within HTML5 games.
  • Microservices and server-side rendering (SSR): VueJS can be used to build microservices or handle SSR for SEO-friendliness and improved performance.

Where is use VueJS?

VueJS is used in a wide range of contexts across various industries and project types. Here are some specific examples of where you might encounter it:

In Websites and Web Applications:

  • Single-page applications (SPAs): Leading companies like GitLab, Netflix, and Twitch rely on VueJS to build their seamless and responsive SPAs.
  • Progressive web applications (PWAs): VueJS is well-suited for creating PWAs that offer offline functionality and native-like experiences, like Pinterest and AliExpress.
  • E-commerce platforms: VueJS powers dynamic and user-friendly online stores for companies like Alibaba and Baidu.
  • News and media websites: Platforms like The Guardian and The Information use VueJS for their interactive elements and efficient data handling.
  • Social media platforms: VueJS contributes to the dynamic and responsive interfaces of platforms like Wechat and Xiaomi.

In Other Applications:

  • Desktop and mobile apps: Frameworks like Electron can combine VueJS with native code to power desktop apps like Spotify and mobile apps like Weee!
  • Games: Libraries like Phaser utilize VueJS to render UI elements and manage game logic in HTML5 games.
  • Data visualization tools: Frameworks like Vue.js Chartisan integrate VueJS for creating interactive and visually appealing data visualizations.
  • Internal tools and dashboards: Companies like Adobe and IBM leverage VueJS for building internal tools and dashboards that streamline their operations.

Beyond specific companies and applications, VueJS is popular in diverse industries like:

  • Finance: Its performance and security features make it suitable for applications in banking, fintech, and financial services.
  • Education: Educational platforms and tools like CodePen and Quill utilize VueJS for their interactivity and user-friendly interfaces.
  • Entertainment and media: Streaming services, social media platforms, and news websites often utilize VueJS for their dynamic and engaging experiences.
  • Healthcare: Applications for patient portals, medical record management, and telehealth often incorporate VueJS for their efficient data handling and user-friendly interfaces.

How to use VueJS?

Learning and using VueJS can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to build dynamic and interactive web interfaces. Here’s a breakdown of how you can get started:

3. Understanding the Basics:

  • Start with the official VueJS documentation: https://vuejs.org/ This comprehensive guide covers everything from installation and fundamentals to advanced concepts.
  • Explore interactive tutorials: Sites like Vue Mastery and Egghead.io offer interactive tutorials and courses that guide you through building projects using VueJS.
  • Familiarize yourself with JavaScript: While VueJS simplifies many things, having a solid foundation in JavaScript is recommended for seamless learning.

2. Setting Up Your Development Environment:

  • Install Node.js and npm: These are essential tools for working with VueJS. Download and install them from the official websites (https://nodejs.org/en/download and https://www.npmjs.com/).
  • Choose a code editor or IDE: Popular options include Visual Studio Code, WebStorm, or Atom. These provide syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and debugging features for VueJS development.
  • Set up a Vue project: The easiest way is to use the Vue CLI (Command Line Interface). Run npm install -g @vue/cli to install it globally, then vue create my-vue-project to create a new project structure.

3. Building Your First Vue Application:

  • Follow the official “Get Started” guide: https://vuejs.org/ This guide walks you through creating a simple “Hello World” app and introduces core concepts like templates, data binding, and components.
  • Experiment with small projects: Start with basic examples like building a to-do list or a simple counter to solidify your understanding and practice writing Vue code.
  • Utilize online playgrounds and sandboxes: Platforms like JSFiddle or CodePen allow you to experiment with VueJS code snippets without setting up a complete project.

4. Deepening Your Knowledge:

  • Explore different Vue features: Learn about components, props, slots, events, computed properties, watchers,and more advanced topics as you progress.
  • Utilize the Vue ecosystem: Discover libraries and tools like Vue Router for routing, Vuex for state management,and Axios for making HTTP requests.
  • Engage with the Vue community: Ask questions, share your projects, and learn from others on forums like the Vue.js forum or the official Discord server.

Remember: Learning takes time and practice. Don’t hesitate to start small, experiment, and seek help when needed. With dedication and the resources available, you can create amazing things with VueJS!

In our upcoming article, we will delve into the practical application of VueJS through hands-on coding.

References

  1. https://vuejs.org/guide/introduction.html#the-progressive-framework ↩︎