Lifecycle hooks in Composition API in Vue

Introduction

Lifecycle hooks let you run code at important moments in a component's life, like when it starts or stops. This helps you manage tasks like fetching data or cleaning up.

When you want to run code right after a component appears on the screen.

When you need to clean up timers or event listeners before a component disappears.

When you want to react to changes in component state or props during its life.

When you want to run code before the component updates its display.

When you want to run code after the component updates its display.

Syntax

Vue

import { onMounted, onUnmounted, onUpdated, onBeforeMount, onBeforeUpdate } from 'vue';

export default {
  setup() {
    onMounted(() => {
      // code to run after component mounts
    });

    onUnmounted(() => {
      // code to run before component unmounts
    });

    onUpdated(() => {
      // code to run after component updates
    });

    onBeforeMount(() => {
      // code to run before component mounts
    });

    onBeforeUpdate(() => {
      // code to run before component updates
    });
  }
}

All lifecycle hooks are called inside the setup() function.

Each hook takes a function that runs at the right time.

Examples

This runs code right after the component appears on the screen.

Vue

import { onMounted } from 'vue';

export default {
  setup() {
    onMounted(() => {
      console.log('Component is now visible');
    });
  }
}

This runs code just before the component disappears, useful for cleanup.

Vue

import { onUnmounted } from 'vue';

export default {
  setup() {
    onUnmounted(() => {
      console.log('Component is about to be removed');
    });
  }
}

This runs code after the component updates its display.

Vue

import { onUpdated } from 'vue';

export default {
  setup() {
    onUpdated(() => {
      console.log('Component just updated');
    });
  }
}

Sample Program

This component shows a count number and a button to increase it. It logs messages when the component mounts, updates, and unmounts, showing how lifecycle hooks work in the Composition API.

Vue

<template>
  <div>
    <p>Count: {{ count }}</p>
    <button @click="increment">Increase</button>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { ref, onMounted, onUnmounted, onUpdated } from 'vue';

const count = ref(0);

function increment() {
  count.value++;
}

onMounted(() => {
  console.log('Component mounted');
});

onUpdated(() => {
  console.log('Component updated, count is', count.value);
});

onUnmounted(() => {
  console.log('Component unmounted');
});
</script>

Important Notes

Use onMounted to start tasks like fetching data.

Use onUnmounted to stop timers or remove event listeners to avoid memory leaks.

Hooks run only inside setup() or <script setup> in Vue 3.

Summary

Lifecycle hooks let you run code at key moments in a component's life.

Use hooks like onMounted and onUnmounted inside setup().

They help manage side effects like data fetching and cleanup.

Practice

1. Which lifecycle hook in Vue's Composition API runs code right after the component is added to the page?

easy

A. onUpdated

B. onCreated

C. onDestroyed

D. onMounted

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the lifecycle phases

   The onMounted hook runs after the component is inserted into the DOM.

2. Step 2: Match the hook to the action

   Since the question asks for the hook that runs right after adding to the page, onMounted is the correct choice.

3. Final Answer:

   onMounted -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Mounted = after insert [OK]

Hint: Remember: mounted means component is on the page [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing onMounted with onCreated
• Thinking onUpdated runs after mounting
• Using onDestroyed for setup tasks

2. Which of these is the correct way to import and use the onUnmounted hook inside the setup() function?

easy

A. import onUnmounted from 'vue';setup() { onUnmounted(() => { /* cleanup */ }); }

B. import { onUnmounted } from 'vue';setup() { onUnmounted(() => { /* cleanup */ }); }

C. import { onUnmounted } from 'vue';setup() { onUnmounted = () => { /* cleanup */ }; }

D. import { onUnmounted } from 'vue';setup() { onUnmounted; }

Solution

1. Step 1: Check import syntax

   The correct import uses curly braces: import { onUnmounted } from 'vue';

2. Step 2: Check usage inside setup

   The hook is called as a function with a callback: onUnmounted(() => { /* cleanup */ });

3. Final Answer:

   Correct import and call syntax -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Import with braces + call hook [OK]

Hint: Import hooks with braces and call them as functions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Importing without braces
• Assigning hook to a variable instead of calling
• Calling hook without a callback function

3. What will be logged to the console when this Vue component runs?

import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue';
export default {
  setup() {
    const count = ref(0);
    onMounted(() => {
      count.value = 5;
      console.log('Mounted count:', count.value);
    });
    return { count };
  }
}

medium

A. Mounted count: 5

B. Mounted count: 0

C. Mounted count: undefined

D. No output

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand ref and onMounted

   count starts at 0, then inside onMounted it is set to 5 and logged.

2. Step 2: Predict console output

   The console logs 'Mounted count:' followed by the updated value 5.

3. Final Answer:

   Mounted count: 5 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Value updated before log in onMounted [OK]

Hint: onMounted runs after setup, so updated values show [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming count is still 0 inside onMounted
• Thinking onMounted runs before setup returns
• Confusing ref.value with ref itself

4. Identify the error in this Vue Composition API code snippet:

import { onMounted } from 'vue';
export default {
  setup() {
    onMounted = () => {
      console.log('Mounted');
    };
  }
}

medium

A. onMounted is incorrectly assigned instead of called

B. Missing import of onUnmounted

C. setup() should return a value

D. Console.log syntax is wrong

Solution

1. Step 1: Check how onMounted is used

   The code assigns a function to onMounted instead of calling it with a callback.

2. Step 2: Understand correct usage

   The correct usage is onMounted(() => { ... }), not assignment.

3. Final Answer:

   onMounted is incorrectly assigned instead of called -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Hooks are called, not reassigned [OK]

Hint: Use onMounted(callback), don't assign it like a variable [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assigning hook instead of calling it
• Forgetting to pass a function to onMounted
• Thinking setup must always return something

5. You want to fetch data when a component mounts and cancel a timer when it unmounts using Composition API. Which code snippet correctly uses lifecycle hooks to do this?

hard

A. import { ref, onUnmounted } from 'vue';
export default {
setup() {
const data = ref(null);
let timer = setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000);
onUnmounted(() => {
clearInterval(timer);
});
return { data };
}
}

B. import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue';
export default {
setup() {
const data = ref(null);
onMounted(() => {
fetch('/api/data').then(res => res.json()).then(json => data.value = json);
setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000);
});
return { data };
}
}

C. import { ref, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue';
export default {
setup() {
const data = ref(null);
let timer;
onMounted(() => {
fetch('/api/data').then(res => res.json()).then(json => data.value = json);
timer = setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000);
});
onUnmounted(() => {
clearInterval(timer);
});
return { data };
}
}

D. import { ref } from 'vue';
export default {
setup() {
const data = ref(null);
fetch('/api/data').then(res => res.json()).then(json => data.value = json);
let timer = setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000);
return { data };
}
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data fetching on mount

   import { ref, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue';
   export default {
     setup() {
       const data = ref(null);
       let timer;
       onMounted(() => {
         fetch('/api/data').then(res => res.json()).then(json => data.value = json);
         timer = setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000);
       });
       onUnmounted(() => {
         clearInterval(timer);
       });
       return { data };
     }
   }

   uses onMounted to fetch data and start the timer, which is correct.

2. Step 2: Check cleanup on unmount

   import { ref, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue';
   export default {
     setup() {
       const data = ref(null);
       let timer;
       onMounted(() => {
         fetch('/api/data').then(res => res.json()).then(json => data.value = json);
         timer = setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000);
       });
       onUnmounted(() => {
         clearInterval(timer);
       });
       return { data };
     }
   }

   uses onUnmounted to clear the timer, preventing memory leaks.

3. Final Answer:

   Correctly uses onMounted and onUnmounted hooks -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Fetch on mount + cleanup on unmount [OK]

Hint: Use onMounted for setup, onUnmounted for cleanup [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Starting timers outside lifecycle hooks
• Not clearing timers on unmount
• Fetching data outside onMounted