Vue UI Libraries: Architecture, Compatibility, and Maintenance
element-ui, quasar, vue-material, and vuetify are component libraries for Vue.js, but they differ significantly in Vue version support and scope. element-ui and vue-material are primarily designed for Vue 2 and are considered legacy for new projects. vuetify and quasar offer robust support for Vue 3, with quasar providing a full application framework beyond just UI components. Choosing between them depends heavily on whether you are maintaining a Vue 2 codebase or starting fresh with Vue 3.
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Vue UI Libraries: Architecture, Compatibility, and Maintenance
element-ui, quasar, vue-material, and vuetify all aim to speed up Vue development by providing pre-built components. However, they are not interchangeable. The most critical difference is Vue version support. Two of these libraries are effectively legacy tools for Vue 2, while the others are active players in the Vue 3 ecosystem. Let's break down the technical realities.
๐ Vue Version Compatibility: The Dealbreaker
This is the first checkpoint for any architectural decision. Using a Vue 2 library in a Vue 3 project will not work without complex migration layers.
element-ui is built for Vue 2 only.
- It does not support the Vue 3 Composition API natively.
- The official successor for Vue 3 is
element-plus, notelement-ui.
<!-- element-ui (Vue 2) -->
<template>
<el-button type="primary">Click</el-button>
</template>
<script>
export default { name: 'App' }
</script>
vue-material is built for Vue 2 only.
- Development has slowed significantly.
- No official stable release for Vue 3 exists under this package name.
<!-- vue-material (Vue 2) -->
<template>
<md-button>Click</md-button>
</template>
<script>
export default { name: 'App' }
</script>
vuetify supports Vue 3 (via version 3).
- Requires explicit installation of the v3 branch.
- Fully supports Composition API and Vue 3 reactivity.
<!-- vuetify (Vue 3) -->
<template>
<v-btn color="primary">Click</v-btn>
</template>
<script setup>
// Vue 3 setup script
</script>
quasar supports Vue 3 (via version 2).
- Built with Vue 3 in mind for recent versions.
- Includes build tools alongside components.
<!-- quasar (Vue 3) -->
<template>
<q-btn color="primary" label="Click" />
</template>
<script setup>
// Vue 3 setup script
</script>
๐งฉ Component API and Syntax
The way you write components differs slightly across these libraries, affecting developer experience and migration efforts.
element-ui uses standard Vue 2 props and events.
- Relies on Options API structure.
- Event modifiers are standard Vue 2 style.
<!-- element-ui -->
<el-button @click="handleClick">Submit</el-button>
vue-material uses a declarative syntax similar to Angular Material.
- Components often wrap native elements.
- Props follow camelCase but map to Material specs.
<!-- vue-material -->
<md-button @click="handleClick">Submit</md-button>
vuetify uses a dense prop system for styling.
- Many visual changes happen via props (e.g.,
color,outlined). - Reduces need for custom CSS classes.
<!-- vuetify -->
<v-btn @click="handleClick" outlined color="primary">Submit</v-btn>
quasar uses a unified prop system across components.
- Props like
color,flat,roundwork similarly on buttons, inputs, etc. - Consistent API surface reduces learning curve.
<!-- quasar -->
<q-btn @click="handleClick" flat color="primary" label="Submit" />
๐จ Theming and Customization
Changing the look and feel of your app is a common requirement. Each library handles this differently.
element-ui uses SCSS variables for theming.
- You override variables before importing the main style file.
- Requires a build step to compile custom themes.
/* element-ui theme */
$--color-primary: #0052D9;
@import "~element-ui/lib/theme-chalk/index.scss";
vue-material uses Sass variables similarly.
- Theme configuration is done via a dedicated theme plugin.
- Less flexible for dynamic runtime theming.
/* vue-material theme */
@import "~vue-material/dist/theme/engine";
@include md-register-theme("default", (primary: #0052D9));
vuetify offers a powerful theme system.
- Supports light and dark modes out of the box.
- Can change themes at runtime via JavaScript.
// vuetify config
export default createVuetify({
theme: {
themes: {
light: { colors: { primary: '#0052D9' } }
}
}
})
quasar provides extensive theme variables.
- Uses CSS variables for runtime changes.
- Includes built-in dark mode toggle support.
// quasar config
export default {
framework: {
config: {
brand: { primary: '#0052D9' }
}
}
}
๐ ๏ธ Ecosystem and Tooling
Some libraries are just components. Others are full frameworks.
element-ui is a component library only.
- You need to set up Vue CLI or Vite separately.
- No built-in layout system or build tools.
vue-material is a component library only.
- Relies on external tools for routing and building.
- Smaller ecosystem compared to others.
vuetify is a component library with plugins.
- Offers a CLI for project scaffolding.
- Integrates well with Nuxt for SSR.
quasar is a full application framework.
- Includes CLI, build system, and deployment tools.
- Can build SPA, PWA, SSR, Mobile, and Electron apps from one codebase.
# quasar CLI
quasar create my-app
quasar dev
quasar build -m pwa
โ ๏ธ Maintenance and Future Proofing
Using a library that is no longer maintained poses security and compatibility risks.
element-ui: Legacy. Security patches are rare. Useelement-plusfor Vue 3.vue-material: Legacy. Community forks exist but lack official backing.vuetify: Active. Regular updates for Vue 3.quasar: Active. Regular updates and strong community support.
๐ Summary: Key Differences
| Feature | element-ui | vue-material | vuetify | quasar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vue Version | Vue 2 Only | Vue 2 Only | Vue 2 & 3 | Vue 2 & 3 |
| Scope | UI Kit | UI Kit | UI Kit | Full Framework |
| Theming | SCSS Variables | SCSS Variables | JS + SCSS | CSS Variables |
| Mobile Support | Responsive | Responsive | Responsive | Native Wrappers |
| Status | Legacy | Legacy | Active | Active |
๐ก The Big Picture
element-ui and vue-material are tools for the past.
- Use them only if you are stuck maintaining older Vue 2 systems.
- Starting a new project with these is not recommended due to lack of Vue 3 support.
vuetify is a polished UI kit for Vue 3.
- Best for teams who want Material Design without extra build tooling.
- Great for admin dashboards and internal tools.
quasar is a complete solution for Vue 3.
- Best for teams who want to target multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop) from one codebase.
- Ideal when you need a framework to handle routing, building, and UI together.
Final Thought: For any new development in 2024 and beyond, prioritize Vue 3 compatibility. This eliminates element-ui and vue-material from consideration unless you are maintaining legacy code. Between vuetify and quasar, choose quasar if you need a full framework, and vuetify if you just need components.
How to Choose: element-ui vs quasar vs vue-material vs vuetify
- element-ui:
Choose
element-uionly if you are maintaining an existing Vue 2 application that already depends on it. Do not use it for new projects because it does not support Vue 3. For Vue 3 projects, evaluateelement-plusinstead, which is the official successor. - quasar:
Choose
quasarif you need a full-stack framework that handles building, deployment, and UI components together. It is ideal for teams wanting a single tool to manage PWA, SSR, and mobile apps with a consistent Vue 3-compatible component set. - vue-material:
Choose
vue-materialonly for legacy Vue 2 maintenance where Material Design is strictly required and migration is not possible. Avoid it for new development as it lacks official Vue 3 support and active maintenance compared to other options. - vuetify:
Choose
vuetifyif you want a comprehensive Material Design component library with strong Vue 3 support. It is suitable for dashboards and admin panels where a polished, opinionated design system is needed without the overhead of a full application framework.
Popular Comparisons
README for element-ui
A Vue.js 2.0 UI Toolkit for Web.
Element will stay with Vue 2.x
For Vue 3.0, we recommend using Element Plus(Element Plus is a community develop project)
For MiniProgram development, we recommend using MorJS
Links
- Homepage and documentation
- awesome-element
- FAQ
- Vue.js 3.0 migration
- Customize theme
- Preview and generate theme online
- Element for React
- Element for Angular
- Atom helper
- Visual Studio Code helper
- Starter kit
- Design resources
- Gitter
Install
npm install element-ui -S
Quick Start
import Vue from 'vue'
import Element from 'element-ui'
Vue.use(Element)
// or
import {
Select,
Button
// ...
} from 'element-ui'
Vue.component(Select.name, Select)
Vue.component(Button.name, Button)
For more information, please refer to Quick Start in our documentation.
Browser Support
Modern browsers and Internet Explorer 10+.
Development
Skip this part if you just want to use Element.
For those who are interested in contributing to Element, please refer to our contributing guide (ไธญๆ | English | Espaรฑol | Franรงais) to see how to run this project.
Changelog
Detailed changes for each release are documented in the release notes.
FAQ
We have collected some frequently asked questions. Before reporting an issue, please search if the FAQ has the answer to your problem.
Contribution
Please make sure to read the contributing guide (ไธญๆ | English | Espaรฑol | Franรงais) before making a pull request.
Special Thanks
English documentation is brought to you by SwiftGG Translation Team:
Spanish documentation is made possible by these community developers:
- adavie1
- carmencitaqiu
- coderdiaz
- fedegar33
- Gonzalo2310
- lesterbx
- ProgramerGuy
- SantiagoGdaR
- sigfriedCub1990
- thechosenjuan
French documentation is made possible by these community developers:
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