Making Vue.js Components Reactive with Vue.set

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework that makes data binding a breeze. However, one issue you may run into when using Vue.js is how to handle changes in an object that wasn't reactive initially. The correct way to make a Vue.js component reactive to such changes is through the use of Vue.set(object, key, value).

Understanding Vue.set Syntax

Vue.set() is a method provided by Vue.js. It allows us to add a property to a reactive object and make sure the new property is also reactive. The Vue.set method takes three parameters:

• object: This is the object to which you want to add a new property.
• key: This is the new property's name.
• value: This is the value you want to assign to the new property.

For example, if you want to add a new property called name to an object user with the value 'John', you'd do it as follows: Vue.set(user, 'name', 'John');.

Practical Application of Vue.set

To illustrate how Vue.set works, suppose we have a Vue.js application with an object called task that represents a to-do item. Initially, our object might look something like this:

let task = {
  title: 'Complete project',
  completed: false
};

Say, we later decide to add a description property to our task object and we want our Vue component to react whenever this description changes. We can use Vue.set to accomplish this:

Vue.set(task, 'description', 'Complete the project within the deadline');

Now, our task object is reactive to changes, and Vue will efficiently update the DOM when we modify task.description later on.

Best Practices and Additional Insights

Using Vue.set is far better than reassigning the object or direct assignment (object.key = value), which might not trigger view updates in Vue.js.

However, it's essential to keep in mind that while Vue.set lets you add reactive properties to an object after it's been created, Vue still enables you to declare all the reactive properties for an object upfront in the data option.

This highlights Vue's preference for declarative over imperative coding. Treating as much of your application as possible declaratively makes the code more predictable, understandable, and easier to debug.

In conclusion, Vue.set is a powerful method that unlocks Vue's reactivity system to objects that weren't initially reactive, ensuring your views stay synchronized with your data.