Defining routes in Vue - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the purpose of defining routes in a Vue application?

Defining routes lets you connect URLs to specific components. It helps users navigate different pages or views in the app without reloading the whole page.

beginner

How do you define a simple route in Vue Router?

You create a route object with a path and a component. For example:

{ path: '/home', component: Home }

This means when the URL is '/home', the Home component shows.

intermediate

What is the role of createRouter and createWebHistory in Vue Router?

createRouter makes the router instance with all routes. createWebHistory tells Vue Router to use browser history mode, so URLs look clean without hashes (#).

intermediate

How can you define nested routes in Vue Router?

Nested routes are defined inside a route's children array. Each child route has its own path and component. This lets you show components inside parent components.

intermediate

What happens if a user visits a URL that does not match any defined route?

You can define a 'catch-all' route with path /:pathMatch(.*)* to show a 'Not Found' component. This handles unknown URLs gracefully.

Which Vue Router function creates the router instance?

A createRoute

B defineRouter

C useRouter

D createRouter

createRouter is used to create the router instance with routes and history mode.

What does the path property in a route define?

A The component to render

B The URL segment to match

C The router mode

D The navigation guard

The path defines the URL segment that triggers the route.

How do you define a nested route in Vue Router?

A Inside the <code>children</code> array of a route

B Using <code>nested: true</code> property

C By adding multiple <code>path</code> properties

D By creating separate router instances

Nested routes go inside the children array of a parent route.

Which history mode removes the hash (#) from URLs in Vue Router?

A createWebHashHistory

B createMemoryHistory

C createWebHistory

D createHistory

createWebHistory uses the browser's history API for clean URLs without hashes.

What path pattern is used to catch all unmatched routes in Vue Router?

A /:pathMatch(.*)*

B /404

C /notfound

D /:catchAll*

The pattern /:pathMatch(.*)* matches any route not defined earlier.

Explain how to set up basic routing in a Vue application using Vue Router.

Think about how URLs connect to components and how Vue Router manages this.

Describe how nested routes work in Vue Router and why they are useful.

Imagine a page with tabs or sections inside it.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of defining routes in a Vue application?

easy

A. To style components with CSS

B. To connect URLs to components so different pages can be shown

C. To manage state between components

D. To handle user input events

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of routes

   Routes link specific URLs to Vue components, allowing navigation between pages.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct purpose

   Connecting URLs to components matches the description of routing.

3. Final Answer:

   To connect URLs to components so different pages can be shown -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Routes = URL to component mapping [OK]

Hint: Routes map URLs to components for page navigation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing routes with styling or CSS
• Thinking routes manage state or events
• Mixing routes with user input handling

2. Which of the following is the correct way to define a route for path '/home' using a component named HomeView?

easy

A. { path: '/home', component: HomeView }

B. { route: '/home', view: HomeView }

C. { url: '/home', component: HomeView }

D. { path: '/home', view: HomeView }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall route object keys

   Routes use keys 'path' for URL and 'component' for the Vue component.

2. Step 2: Match correct syntax

   { path: '/home', component: HomeView } uses correct keys: path and component with proper values.

3. Final Answer:

   { path: '/home', component: HomeView } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Route keys = path + component [OK]

Hint: Use 'path' and 'component' keys to define routes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'route' or 'url' instead of 'path'
• Using 'view' instead of 'component'
• Mixing keys or misspelling them

3. Given this route setup:

const routes = [
  { path: '/', component: HomeView },
  { path: '/about', component: AboutView }
];
const router = createRouter({
  history: createWebHistory(),
  routes
});

What component will show when the URL is '/about'?

medium

A. AboutView

B. HomeView

C. createRouter

D. createWebHistory

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the route matching '/about'

   The route with path '/about' uses component AboutView.

2. Step 2: Understand router behavior

   When URL is '/about', Vue Router renders AboutView component.

3. Final Answer:

   AboutView -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   URL '/about' shows AboutView [OK]

Hint: URL matches route path to show its component [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing router functions with components
• Choosing HomeView for '/about' URL
• Not linking URL to correct route

4. Identify the error in this route definition:

const routes = [
  { path: '/contact', component ContactView }
];

medium

A. Component name should be a string

B. Path should start with '#' instead of '/'

C. Missing colon ':' after 'component'

D. Routes array should be inside createRouter

Solution

1. Step 1: Check object syntax in route

   Each key-value pair must have a colon ':' separating them.

2. Step 2: Spot missing colon after 'component'

   In the route, 'component ContactView' misses ':'; it should be 'component: ContactView'.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing colon ':' after 'component' -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Object syntax needs ':' [OK]

Hint: Check colons between keys and values in objects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting colon ':' in object properties
• Using '#' instead of '/' in paths
• Putting component names as strings incorrectly

5. You want to create a Vue router with two routes: '/' showing HomeView and '/profile/:id' showing ProfileView. Which code correctly defines these routes and sets up the router?

hard

A. const routes = [
{ path: '/', component: HomeView },
{ path: '/profile/:id', component: ProfileView }
];
const router = createRouter({
history: createMemoryHistory(),
routes
});

B. const routes = [
{ path: '/', component: HomeView },
{ path: '/profile/id', component: ProfileView }
];
const router = createRouter({
history: createWebHistory(),
routes
});

C. const routes = [
{ path: '/', component: HomeView },
{ path: '/profile/:id', component: 'ProfileView' }
];
const router = createRouter({
history: createWebHistory(),
routes
});

D. const routes = [
{ path: '/', component: HomeView },
{ path: '/profile/:id', component: ProfileView }
];
const router = createRouter({
history: createWebHistory(),
routes
});

Solution

1. Step 1: Define routes with dynamic segment

   Use '/profile/:id' to capture dynamic id parameter correctly.

2. Step 2: Use correct component references and history mode

   Components must be variables (not strings). Use createWebHistory() for normal web routing.

3. Step 3: Check each option

   const routes = [ { path: '/', component: HomeView }, { path: '/profile/:id', component: ProfileView } ]; const router = createRouter({ history: createWebHistory(), routes }); matches all requirements: dynamic path, component variables, and web history.

4. Final Answer:

   Correct route array with dynamic segment and createWebHistory() -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Dynamic routes use ':param' and createWebHistory() [OK]

Hint: Use ':param' for dynamic routes and createWebHistory() for browser routing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using literal 'id' instead of ':id' for dynamic segments
• Passing component names as strings instead of variables
• Using createMemoryHistory() instead of createWebHistory() for web apps