Render functions vs templates decision in Vue - Hands-On Comparison

Render Functions vs Templates Decision in Vue

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple Vue component to display a list of fruits. You want to understand the difference between using a template and a render function to create the component's output.

🎯 Goal: Create a Vue component that shows a list of fruits using both a template and a render function. Learn how to decide when to use each approach.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a Vue component with a list of fruits in data

Add a configuration variable to choose between template or render function

Use a render function to display the fruits when chosen

Use a template to display the fruits when chosen

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

In real projects, you might choose templates for simplicity and readability, or render functions for more dynamic or complex UI logic.

💼 Career

Understanding when to use templates or render functions helps you write flexible Vue components and work effectively in teams or complex projects.

1

Data Setup: Define the fruits list

Create a Vue component named FruitList with a data function that returns an object containing a fruits array with these exact strings: 'Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry'.

Vue

export default {
  name: 'FruitList',
  data() {
    // Your code here
  }
}

Hint

Remember, data is a function that returns an object with your component's reactive data.

2

Configuration: Add a mode variable to choose rendering method

Inside the data function, add a boolean variable called useRenderFunction and set it to false. This will control whether to use the render function or the template.

Vue

export default {
  name: 'FruitList',
  data() {
    return {
      fruits: ['Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry'],
      // Your code here
    };
  }
}

Hint

This variable will help us switch between template and render function easily.

3

Core Logic: Add a render function to display fruits when chosen

Add a render function to the component that returns a ul element with li children for each fruit in this.fruits. Use this.useRenderFunction to decide if the render function should be used; if false, return null to fall back to the template.

Vue

export default {
  name: 'FruitList',
  data() {
    return {
      fruits: ['Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry'],
      useRenderFunction: false
    };
  },
  // Your code here
}

Hint

The render function uses this.$createElement to build elements. Returning null lets Vue use the template instead.

4

Completion: Add a template to display fruits when not using render function

Add a template section that shows a ul with li elements for each fruit in fruits using v-for. This template will be used when useRenderFunction is false.

Vue

  



export default {
  name: 'FruitList',
  data() {
    return {
      fruits: ['Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry'],
      useRenderFunction: false
    };
  },
  render() {
    if (!this.useRenderFunction) return null;
    return this.$createElement('ul', this.fruits.map(fruit => this.$createElement('li', fruit)));
  }
}

Hint

The template uses v-for to loop over fruits and display each one in a list item.