For any kind of developer, the user interface (UI) is huge. Whether you are designing something on mobile, web, desktop, or any other platform, without the right UI you can’t get the desired result. One important aspect is the user experience that your UI gives, but at the same time, you also need to see the quality of communication that the UI facilitates between the user and the application.
The UI itself is a building block for the entire development process because this will dictate what the application can do and what options the user has. So, it has equal significance in the performance of your app and the aesthetic appeal. This is unique to the UI and the main reason why Vue.js is such a popular choice.
VueJS
VueJS is a framework that is used to build interfaces, and what sets this apart is that it can be used as a library as well as a framework. This is possible because the VueJS system consists of a core library that is used as the groundwork of the view layer and there are a number of supporting libraries that you can attach to this base structure as supporting libraries. What’s even better is that this is a progressive framework meaning that it can be attached to HTML and they will both work in tandem. If a change is made to the VueJS library it will modify and update the HTML automatically and in this way, the system is always ready to be updated through the VueJS.
With VueJS you get the best of the best. It incorporates some of the key features of its competitors such as React and Angular and brings them together in an environment that is easy to understand for beginners yet also very capable even for advanced programmers. Due to its rapidly growing popularity, we are seeing plenty of tools for VueJS entering the market, and it has quickly become the go-to option for developers of all tiers. The streamlined structure of the product, the simple interface, and the thorough documentation make this an ideal framework to work with.
Components
The components of VueJS are the main characteristics of the main features of the UI that you see. For instance, if you are making a web page, the components will include things like the tables, the loading icon, the buttons, the notifications bar, and all other visual features of the website. Just because these are visual features doesn’t mean that they are unrelated to processing. They are intertwined with the backend processing of the system, and these are things that will be common across all pages on the website. Think of this as the structure of the building, the skeleton of a body.
Creating, implementing, and managing this aspect of the website will be a UI Design expert. Their job is to make the UI easy to understand for the user, to make it functional, and also to make it visually appealing. All these different things on the webpage including the buttons, the text, and the rest of the structure can be made from scratch, but the whole purpose of using components is that you get pre-made solutions that you can just plug and play in your application. These are available in different collections that you can either download for free or purchase. To bring all these tools and building blocks together you also need a dashboard. This is akin to the workshop where you bring in all your supplies and start building fixtures and fittings to place on the skeletal structure that you already have. Again, there are many different ‘offices’ that you can use to build your website/application.
All components can be categorized into 4 distinct types:
- Containers – These are used to fetch information and provide this to the components to create the necessary HTML.
- Informational Components – these give the user information for instance a loading sign, a tips notification, a message box, or any other kind of instrument that is relaying information to the user.
- Navigational Component – These help the user to find their way on the web page itself or move to a different webpage on the website. Things like sliders, search boxes, tags, and icons, are examples of navigational components.
- Input Controls – These controls help the user interact with the webpage and define what they want to do. This can include things like checkboxes, dropdown lists, text fields, date fields, and others.
Now let’s look at some of the specific components that you can use to enhance your VueJS project and get it looking and working like it was built by an expert.
File Upload Components
1. Upload.io Uploader
File uploaders are a tricky part of application development because on one end, they require the UI that facilitates the upload but on the back-end, they also need a properly setup API to run smoothly. The Vue upload component from Uploader.io solves both these challenges as it gives you a complete solution. The front end is a sleek, personalized, and easy-to-use interface that even a basic developer can get used to. The back-end is a powerhouse in terms of functionality and versatility. Combined with the company’s solid infrastructure including a huge CDN network, performance will not be an issue at all.
2. Vue Image Upload and Resize
This plugin focuses on client uploads and is designed to cover both uploading the image and transforming the image to show up properly on the website. This was designed to be used in situations where applications have a large number of users that are uploading relatively low-quality images from mobile phones. In many cases, file uploads happen with the incorrect orientation and so the image needs to be resized, rotated, or cropped. This component will allow you to do all these things, but it can also be used as a dedicated uploader if you don’t need image management services.
Tables/Data Grid Components
3. Vue Tables 2
Tables are an important part of any kind of website whether it is an e-commerce store or a simple informational site. Vue Tables 2 has all the flexibility you need to create something functional and beautiful for your particular needs. This is a very popular component in the industry, and it is being used by some of the biggest brands in the business. It comes with a robust tool-set that enables you to create any kind of table you want while keeping application performance stable and consistent. Some of the premium features in this solution include multiple layer grouping with data layer backing, selectable rows and sticky headers, and the ability to download component data in a CSV format.
4. HandsonTable
Handsontable is the ideal solution for situations where you need a mix of a table and a spreadsheet but you don’t want to have to deal with integrating a full spreadsheet. Handsontable comes in many varieties and this one is designed specifically for VueJS. It’s also a popular choice because it works just as great for Angular, React, and others.
With this component, you will have a lot of control over the table itself and the data within the table. You can easily do data binding, data validation, filtering, sorting, and a variety of other functions. The UX is very much like a spreadsheet but it can easily be used as a table too. One of the premium features that this platform has is the ability to post context comments. In fact, there is an entire context menu which makes collaboration that much easier.
5. Ag GridVue
Many people know the AG grid as a JavaScript data grid but with an adaptor, it can work wonders for VueJS too. It is a very fluid application since it has no third-party dependencies and performs brilliantly in all environments. If you already have a complex architecture going on and you want something that will just bolt on without needing too much work in other places to make it acceptable, this is the best option.
Notification Components
6. Vue Toastification
If you are looking for a flexible notification component that will also help to future-proof your project then this is the right choice for you. This component comes with NUXT support as standard and is ready for Vue3. If you want to be using the new Composition API, then this will work with that too. The component is very easy to use and you can have it up and running in a matter of seconds.
If you want to go a step further and create something unique, you can use your own custom components or a JSX as the host body and create something of your own to use. This component is also very fluid across different platforms, even if you see React in the near future for your project you can take Toastification with you.
7. Vue Notifications
This is another great option, but it is specifically geared toward people that want to be using velocity for their notifications development. In terms of usability and power, it is great, but it is a niche item that will not be of use or interest to everyone. However, if you do need to use velocity, this is the best choice.
8. Vue Toasted
Another very well-known and very well reputed notification component is Vue Toasted. This is going to be the best choice for people developing solutions for mobiles as it also supports touch inputs. Moreover, it is quite flexible in its usability; it can create a customized notification for any kind of topic or requirement in your application. It’s beginner-friendly but has the potential to cater to even your most advanced needs.
Loader Components
9. Vue Wait
Among the different loader components, Vue Wait is a popular choice, and for good reason. The main advantage to this loader is that it supports multiple loading notifications on the same page and you don’t have to spend hours upon hours trying to resolve conflicts. This particular component is ideal for Vue/Vuex and Nuxt applications. The strategy for this loader is to build an array together with loading states. This makes the process much quicker and much easier to execute. Vue Wait also comes with a built-in loader component which is constantly synced with the registered loader so you get instant results.
10. Vue Content Loader
This loader is unique because it is a loader inside a container. If you are using VueJS then this can be a container that is your entire screen. Unlike other loaders, this option also allows you to customize the loading image itself. You can play around with colors, sizes, speed, and different variables depending on the specific loader you are using. If you want to create a completely customized loader, that can also be done through this solution. However, it is still a very robust platform right out of the box.
It comes with a number of presets and they are quite decent so you can use them as-is. There is a lot of research behind this loader so you don’t have to worry about basic conflicts and other minor issues. Lastly, it isn’t compulsory to have JavaScript or even a canvas. Since this tool is Pure SVG, you can use it just as it is.
When you are putting together a site or any kind of application one of the most important steps is the research process. Especially when you are working with components from different libraries and trying to get the smoothest user experience, you need to know how to pick and choose the best options.
Too many people get carried away with using the most powerful option only to later find out that it is conflicting with other parts of the application and then they have to redo a big portion of it. Instead, you can use some of these tried and tested solutions that are already streamlined to operate in complex environments and still give you the best results. Moreover, these components offer great flexibility.
You can squeeze even more performance out of them by adjusting them to your specific scenario and fine-tuning them to your particular needs.
