Welcome dear reader, today we compare the two ways of writing components in Vue.js: the Options API and the Composition API. If you are starting with Vue or reading someone else’s code, you will meet both styles — and understanding their differences will make you a faster, more confident Vue developer.
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Table of contents
- What are the Two Component Styles in Vue.js?
- How Does the Options API Work?
- How Does the Composition API Work?
- Which One Should You Choose?
- Conclusion
What are the Two Component Styles in Vue.js?
Vue.js components can be written in two flavors, using the exact same underlying engine. The Options API organizes code into named options — data, methods, computed. The Composition API organizes code by feature, letting you declare reactive state and logic together in one place.
Neither is better — they are two authoring styles supported side by side in Vue 3. If you have worked with lightweight reactive libraries before, our guide on adding Alpine.js to a Laravel project takes a similar sprinkle interactivity approach.
How Does the Options API Work?
The Options API is the classic style, and it is very beginner-friendly: every component is a JavaScript object whose keys dictate what lives where.
<script>
export default {
// Reactive state lives in data()
data() {
return { count: 0 };
},
// Methods live here
methods: {
increment() {
this.count++;
}
},
// Mounted runs after the component is rendered
mounted() {
console.log("component ready");
}
}
</script>
Everything related to count is spread across data, methods, and lifecycle hooks — a clear structure while components stay small.
How Does the Composition API Work?
The Composition API — used with <script setup> — replaces the object of options with plain JavaScript functions. State is created with ref() or reactive():
<script setup>
// Import the reactivity helper
import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue';
// Reactive state declared where it is used
const count = ref(0);
// Plain functions, no "this" keyword
function increment() {
count.value++;
}
// Lifecycle hook, registered directly
onMounted(() => {
console.log("component ready");
});
</script>
Notice that all the logic about count now lives together. This logical grouping is the API’s superpower: it scales much better when components grow complex.
Which One Should You Choose?
A practical rule of thumb: learn the Options API first if you are new to Vue — the mental model is simpler and every tutorial covers it. Reach for the Composition API when components grow larger, when you want to extract and reuse logic across components with composables, or when you use TypeScript, where it offers better type inference.
Keep in mind you can mix both: old components keep working, and you migrate when it pays off — there is no forced rewrite.
Conclusion
That’s already it for our comparison. The Options API offers a structured, beginner-friendly object layout, while the Composition API gives you flexible, feature-grouped logic that scales with your application. Try both on a small component and feel the difference yourself. Leave a comment below with the style you prefer, and why!