Introduction
Initially released in 2016, Nuxt.js is a framework for creating Vue.js applications – enabling users to choose between Universal, Single Page or Static Generated application.
Nuxt.js is based on Vue.js, Express.js, Node.js, Webpack, and Babel.js. One of the biggest selling points of the framework is that it is a meta-framework for universal applications – making universal apps easier.
One of the core benefits of the Nuxt.js framework is that it makes the configuration and setup of applications seamless and simplified to the application developer, enabling them to easily develop UI portions of the specific application as if it were a more familiar Vue.js single file application.
So What is Nuxt.js?
The main scope of the Nuxt.js is UI rendering while abstracting away the client/server distribution. The Nuxt.js official states that “Our goal is to create a framework flexible enough that you can use it as a main project base or in addition to your current project based on Node.jsâ€. Nuxt.js is
- Performant: Nuxt.js helps users build performant applications by utilizing the best practices of Vue.js and Node.js. Nuxt includes various analyzer to avoid unnecessary bit out of your app and easily fine-tune your application.
- Modular: Nuxt has been built on a powerful modular architecture – offering more than 50 modules to choose from to make your development easier and faster. Using Nuxt, you don’t have to add Google Analytics to your page, reinvent the wheel to get PWA benefits or generate a sitemap.
- Enjoyable: Nust has been built with a focus on Developer Experience. It provides descriptive error messages to better understand the issue, expect appealing solutions, powerful defaults and much more with a detailed documentation to help you better understand Nuxt.
In basic language, Nuxt is a higher-level framework that has been built on top of Vue – simplifying the development of universal or single page Vue applications.
Features of Nuxt.js
As a framework, Nuxt.js comes with an array of features to help developers simplify development between the client side and the server side such as Middleware, Layouts, etc. Some of the key features of Nuxt.js include
- Write Vue Files (*.vue)
- Server-Side Rendering
- Automatic Code Splitting
- Powerful Routing System with Asynchronous Data
- ES6/ES7 Transpilation
- Static File Serving
- Bundling and minifying of your JS & CSS
- Hot module replacement in Development
- Managing <head> element (<title>, <meta>, etc.)
- Pre-processor: Sass, Less, Stylus, etc.
- Extending with Modular architecture
- HTTP/2 push headers ready
Rendering Modes
- Server Side Rendered (Universal)
Server Side Rendered (SSR) is the most popular mode for Nuxt, which is also referred as “universal” mode. With this mode a Node.js server will be used to deliver HTML based on the Vue components to the client instead of the core javascript. Using Server Side Rendered will lead to a significant SEO boost, better user experience and more opportunities.
- Statically Generated (Pre-Rendering)
Nuxt.js supports generating a static website based on the Vue app. Nuxt will pre-render all pages and include the necessary HTML without the need of a server but still have SEO benefits.
- Single Page Application (SPA)
If you don’t need SSR or Static Site Generation but still need the benefits that Nuxt provides, then SPA mode is the best choice for you. The outcome will be a common Vue SPA.
Benefits of using Nuxt.js for your next web application
Now that we know basic of Nuxt and what features it offers, let’s explore the benefits of considering Nuxt for your next Vue project.
Create universal apps
A universal app is used to define JavaScript code that can execute both on the server as well as the client side. Nuxt.js has been designed to help users write universal apps more simply for your Vue applications by giving you access to properties like isServer and isClient on your components to help you easily determine if you’re rendering something on the server or on the client. Some special components like the no-ssr component are provided to intentionally prevent the component from rendering on the server side.
Moreover, Nuxt gives its users access to an asyncData method to help them fetch data and render it on the server side.
Statically render your Vue apps
Nuxt provides nuxt generate command to generate a completely static version of your website (for every one of your routes) and put it inside of its own file.
For example, the following file structure (taken from official guide of Nuxt.js):
-| pages/
—-| about.vue
—-| index.vue
Will generate:
-| dist/
—-| about/
——| index.html
—-| index.html
With this, you get the benefits of universal rendering without a server. You can host your generated web app on any static hosting!
Some other benefits of Nuxt are:
- Set up transitions between your routes easily using a wrapper <transition>
- Write Single File Components easily
- Get ES6/ES7 compilation without any additional effort
- Get setup with an auto-updating server for easy development
- Provides folder structures to structure project by default
- Setup via the command line with the starter template
Final Thoughts on Nuxt.js
Nuxt.js has improved the experience of the development of Vue.js apps – offering rendering modes; Server Side Rendered (Universal), Statically Generated (Pre-Rendering), and Single Page Application (SPA). Nuxt can be you the main base of your project with benefits like ES6 compilation, .vue files, and many more features.
If you want to build an app; web or mobile, get in touch with our team. We will help you build the best app for you and your business.