Benefits of Using Vue.js

What is VueJS?

Vue.js may be defined as a progressive framework for JavaScript which is used to build web interfaces and single-page applications.

• Vue.js is used both for developing desktop and mobile applications with the Electron framework.
• The HTML extension and the JavaScript base have quickly made Vue.js a favored front-end tool, evidenced by adoption by such giants as Adobe, Behance, Alibaba, Gitlab, and Xiaomi.
• The name of the framework – Vue – is the same phonetically in English as view, and it corresponds to the traditional Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture.
• The view is basically a UI of an application or a website, and the core library of Vue.js focuses on the view layer by default.
• But, MVC does not mean that Vue.js cannot be used with a different architectural approach like the Component-Based Architecture (CBA) used in React.

Features

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework with various features for building user interfaces. They are as discussed below:

1. Virtual DOM

Vue.js utilizes the concept of virtual DOM. Virtual DOM is actually a clone of the principal DOM element that absorbs every change intended for the DOM and is present in the form of JavaScript data structures. The changes made to the JavaScript data structures are compared with the original data structure. Only the final changes will reflect in the real DOM, which viewers will be able to see. This is considered a creative method that is cost-effective and the changes can be quickly done.

2. Data Binding

This feature of Data Binding allows to manipulate or assign values to HTML attributes, change the style, and assign classes with the help of a binding directive known as v-bind available with VueJS.

3. CSS Transitions and Animations

This feature facilitates the process of applying a transition to HTML elements when they are added, updated or removed from the DOM. It has a built-in transition component that wraps the element responsible for returning the transition effect. Developers can add 3rd party animation libraries and make the user experience more interactive with no trouble.

4. Template

Vue.js offers HTML-based templates that bind the DOM with the Vue.js instance data. It compiles the templates into Virtual DOM Render functions. A web developer can use the template of the render functions and they can replace the template with the render function.

Advantages of Using Vue.js

1. Simplicity

The basic principle behind the development of Vue.js is to achieve optimum results with minimal efforts such that the user can code using only a few lines. Vue.js is also awesome for working with components because of the fact that it needs relatively little overhead because single-file components can store all the codes such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a single file.

2. Integration

The developers can also integrate Vue.js with other popular frameworks like React which enables them to customize the project according to their respective requirements. Since the integration is so simple, Vue.js is becoming a popular choice for web development as it can be used with a variety of existing web applications in today's marketplace.

As the backend is built on JavaScript, developers can also use the technology to experiment with many other JavaScript applications. Similarly, the multiple varieties of components enable the developers to create different types of web applications and alter the existing frameworks. In addition to JavaScript, it can also handle HTML blocks because MVVM architecture facilitates two-way communication.

3. User-Friendly

According to various experts, Vue.js does not require a steep learning curve, which proves to be really beneficial for new programmers. Regarding the learning process, Vue.js only requires programmers to know the basics of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, which is unlike Angular or React, where additional programming languages are necessary for advanced coding. In addition, Vue.js can be used with common editors. There is even a browser plugin under Firefox and Chrome, which makes it much easier to get started quickly.

4. Customization

Vue.js is referred to as a great tool for developers because all of its functions are readily accessible and the developers can easily name the function as they like. Every segment can have separate functions, which makes it easier to customize the application according to individual requirements.

5. Few Restrictions

The design of Vue.js also offers fewer restrictions and greater flexibility to complete the project. The core library focuses on the ‘View’ part; which when combined with the modular approach, and the use of various libraries facilitates the programmers to solve problems in multiple ways. Despite the fact that the Vue.js community is still evolving, there is always someone eager to help with new ideas and innovative solutions.

6. Documentation

Having good documentation is extremely useful for any framework. It shows all the options offered by the framework and corresponding best practice examples. The documentation at Vue.js is constantly being improved and updated, and it also contains a simple introductory guide and a very good overview of the API. Perhaps, it is one of the most detailed documentation available for the type of language.

7. Community Support

The community support for the platform is also quite impressive. For example, in 2015, every query on the official platform was answered. Similarly, more than 1,400 issues were resolved on GitHub with an average time of fewer than 13 hours. In 2018, the support continued to impress as every query was diligently answered. In fact, more than 6,200 problems were resolved with an average resolution time of only six hours. To support the community, there are consistent release cycles of updated information. In addition, the community continues to grow and evolve with the backend support of developers.

Drawbacks of Vue.js

1. Future Contenders

Since Vue.js has only a small development, the absence of active research may provide an opportunity for another fresh framework to catch the interest of the community. In such a case, the development of the framework can slow or even stagnate. Such threats are valid as major tech giants such as Google and Facebook are actively involved in the development of similar concepts.

2. Language Barriers

Some experts have also cited that the language barriers may be a potential problem. It is interesting to note that most of the coding is written in the Chinese language, which often complicates things for non-native speakers. As such, there seems to be a lot of support for the Chinese development community as compared to others.

3. Lack of Plugins

As Vue.js is basically in the development phase, support for important plugins is still missing. It means that developers need to switch to other languages for assistance. For example, it is not uncommon for developers to resort to vanilla JavaScript when using Google Maps. On a similar note, the fast evolution of Vue.js means that some of the important information on the Internet may be outdated forcing developers to revert to documentation.

Summary

• Vue.js is an excellent tool for web development interfaces. It gained popularity in 2016 after Laravel started using it for its projects.
• Research on the related developments of the framework illustrates that it is the best solution for small and medium products development.
• In this article, we also learned the various features of Vue.js that make it unique and user-friendly.
• We understood the various benefits of working with Vue.js like simplicity, integration, user-friendliness, customizability, community support and others.
• As every coin has two sides, Vue.js also has certain drawbacks like the lack of plugins and certain language barriers.