Both vue-draggable-plus and vuedraggable are Vue components that wrap the SortableJS library to enable drag-and-drop functionality for lists. vuedraggable is the original and widely adopted wrapper, supporting both Vue 2 and Vue 3. vue-draggable-plus is a newer alternative built specifically for Vue 3, focusing on improved TypeScript support and alignment with modern Vue reactivity systems. Developers use these tools to create sortable lists, Kanban boards, and rearrangeable grids without managing low-level DOM events manually.
Both vue-draggable-plus and vuedraggable solve the same core problem β making lists sortable in Vue applications using SortableJS. However, they differ in how they handle Vue 3 reactivity, TypeScript definitions, and maintenance focus. Let's look at the technical differences that impact daily development.
vue-draggable-plus is installed as a modern Vue 3 package. It exports the component directly for use in <script setup>.
// vue-draggable-plus
import { VueDraggable } from 'vue-draggable-plus'
// Usage in template
// <VueDraggable v-model="items" ... />
vuedraggable requires ensuring you are on version 4+ for Vue 3 support. It uses a default export for the component.
// vuedraggable
import draggable from 'vuedraggable'
// Usage in template
// <draggable v-model="items" ... />
Both libraries use the v-model directive to sync the list state. However, how you render items inside the draggable area differs slightly in recommended patterns.
vue-draggable-plus encourages using the item slot for clarity and better Vue 3 integration.
<!-- vue-draggable-plus -->
<template>
<VueDraggable v-model="tasks" item-key="id">
<template #item="{ element }">
<div>{{ element.title }}</div>
</template>
</VueDraggable>
</template>
vuedraggable supports the item slot in Vue 3 versions, but older patterns often used v-for directly on the component (which is discouraged in Vue 3).
<!-- vuedraggable -->
<template>
<draggable v-model="tasks" item-key="id">
<template #item="{ element }">
<div>{{ element.title }}</div>
</template>
</draggable>
</template>
Type safety is a major differentiator. Modern Vue projects rely heavily on TypeScript, and the quality of type definitions affects developer speed.
vue-draggable-plus ships with built-in TypeScript definitions. You get autocomplete for props like group, sort, and disabled without extra setup.
// vue-draggable-plus
// Types are inferred automatically
const handleEnd = (evt: any) => {
console.log(evt.oldIndex, evt.newIndex)
}
vuedraggable has community-maintained types or requires manual declaration in some setups. You might need to augment types or cast props to avoid errors.
// vuedraggable
// May require manual type extension
interface DraggableProps {
modelValue: any[]
itemKey: string
}
Vue 3.6+ introduced changes to how reactivity handles arrays and proxies. This broke some older wrappers.
vue-draggable-plus was built after these changes. It handles array mutations correctly without triggering excessive re-renders or losing state.
// vue-draggable-plus
// Handles splice/move events cleanly
const items = ref([{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }])
// Dragging updates 'items' without warning logs
vuedraggable (early Vue 3 versions) had issues with reactivity warnings when moving items. While patched in later v4 releases, some edge cases still require workarounds.
// vuedraggable
// Older versions might log warnings on move
// Ensure using v4.1.0+ for best stability
const items = ref([{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }])
Both libraries expose SortableJS events via Vue props. The naming convention is consistent, but type safety varies.
vue-draggable-plus provides typed event handlers. You know exactly what data evt contains.
<!-- vue-draggable-plus -->
<VueDraggable
v-model="list"
@end="onEnd"
/>
<script setup lang="ts">
const onEnd = (evt: any) => {
// Fully typed event object
}
</script>
vuedraggable uses the same event names but may lack strict typing for the event payload in some IDEs.
<!-- vuedraggable -->
<draggable
v-model="list"
@end="onEnd"
/>
<script setup>
const onEnd = (evt) => {
// evt structure depends on runtime
}
</script>
Connecting two lists together requires the group prop. Both handle this similarly, but syntax consistency matters.
vue-draggable-plus ensures the group object is reactive and typed.
<!-- vue-draggable-plus -->
<VueDraggable
v-model="listA"
:group="{ name: 'shared', pull: true, put: true }"
/>
vuedraggable supports the same object structure. However, reactivity issues in older versions sometimes required wrapping the group object in toRef.
<!-- vuedraggable -->
<draggable
v-model="listA"
:group="{ name: 'shared', pull: true, put: true }"
/>
Despite the differences, both libraries share the same underlying engine and core features.
// Both support standard SortableJS options
const options = {
animation: 150,
ghostClass: 'ghost'
}
v-model to sync the array.<!-- Both -->
<component v-model="myList" />
handle.<!-- Both -->
<component v-model="list" handle=".handle" />
<div class="handle">::</div>
<TransitionGroup> for move animations.<!-- Both -->
<TransitionGroup name="list">
<component v-model="list" />
</TransitionGroup>
<!-- Both -->
<component v-model="list" :disabled="isReadOnly" />
| Feature | vue-draggable-plus | vuedraggable |
|---|---|---|
| Vue Version | Vue 3 Only | Vue 2 & Vue 3 |
| TypeScript | β Built-in, Strong | β οΈ Community/Manual |
| Reactivity | β Optimized for Vue 3.6+ | β οΈ Requires v4+ |
| Maintenance | π’ Active, Vue 3 Focused | π‘ Mature, Slower Updates |
| Bundle | π Lightweight | π¦ Standard |
vue-draggable-plus is the modern choice for greenfield Vue 3 projects. It removes friction for TypeScript users and avoids known reactivity pitfalls. It feels like a native part of the Vue 3 ecosystem.
vuedraggable remains a solid option for teams maintaining Vue 2 apps or those who need a single solution for mixed Vue 2/3 repositories. It is stable but requires more care when configuring strict TypeScript environments.
Final Thought: If you are starting fresh with Vue 3 and TypeScript, vue-draggable-plus saves time on type definitions and debugging. If you are migrating an existing app using vuedraggable, staying on it is reasonable unless you hit specific reactivity bugs.
Choose vuedraggable if you are maintaining a legacy Vue 2 codebase or migrating incrementally to Vue 3. It is also suitable for JavaScript-only projects where strict TypeScript definitions are not a priority. Its long history means many existing tutorials and examples are available for reference.
Choose vue-draggable-plus for new Vue 3 projects, especially those using TypeScript. It offers stronger type definitions and fixes specific reactivity issues found in older wrappers when used with Vue 3.6+. It is the better fit for teams prioritizing type safety and long-term maintenance in the modern Vue ecosystem.
Vue component (Vue.js 2.0) or directive (Vue.js 1.0) allowing drag-and-drop and synchronization with view model array.
Based on and offering all features of Sortable.js

https://sortablejs.github.io/Vue.Draggable/
https://david-desmaisons.github.io/draggable-example/
tag and componentData propsAdmin Dashboard Templates made with Vue, React and Angular.
Find this project useful? You can buy me a :coffee: or a :beer:
yarn add vuedraggable
npm i -S vuedraggable
Beware it is vuedraggable for Vue 2.0 and not vue-draggable which is for version 1.0
<script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/vue/2.5.2/vue.min.js"></script>
<!-- CDNJS :: Sortable (https://cdnjs.com/) -->
<script src="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/sortablejs@1.8.4/Sortable.min.js"></script>
<!-- CDNJS :: Vue.Draggable (https://cdnjs.com/) -->
<script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/Vue.Draggable/2.20.0/vuedraggable.umd.min.js"></script>
Use draggable component:
<draggable v-model="myArray" group="people" @start="drag=true" @end="drag=false">
<div v-for="element in myArray" :key="element.id">{{element.name}}</div>
</draggable>
.vue file:
import draggable from 'vuedraggable'
...
export default {
components: {
draggable,
},
...
transition-group:<draggable v-model="myArray">
<transition-group>
<div v-for="element in myArray" :key="element.id">
{{element.name}}
</div>
</transition-group>
</draggable>
Draggable component should directly wrap the draggable elements, or a transition-component containing the draggable elements.
<draggable v-model="myArray" draggable=".item">
<div v-for="element in myArray" :key="element.id" class="item">
{{element.name}}
</div>
<button slot="footer" @click="addPeople">Add</button>
</draggable>
<draggable v-model="myArray" draggable=".item">
<div v-for="element in myArray" :key="element.id" class="item">
{{element.name}}
</div>
<button slot="header" @click="addPeople">Add</button>
</draggable>
<draggable v-model='myList'>
computed: {
myList: {
get() {
return this.$store.state.myList
},
set(value) {
this.$store.commit('updateList', value)
}
}
}
Type: Array
Required: false
Default: null
Input array to draggable component. Typically same array as referenced by inner element v-for directive.
This is the preferred way to use Vue.draggable as it is compatible with Vuex.
It should not be used directly but only though the v-model directive:
<draggable v-model="myArray">
Type: Array
Required: false
Default: null
Alternative to the value prop, list is an array to be synchronized with drag-and-drop.
The main difference is that list prop is updated by draggable component using splice method, whereas value is immutable.
Do not use in conjunction with value prop.
New in version 2.19
Sortable options can be set directly as vue.draggable props since version 2.19.
This means that all sortable option are valid sortable props with the notable exception of all the method starting by "on" as draggable component expose the same API via events.
kebab-case propery are supported: for example ghost-class props will be converted to ghostClass sortable option.
Example setting handle, sortable and a group option:
<draggable
v-model="list"
handle=".handle"
:group="{ name: 'people', pull: 'clone', put: false }"
ghost-class="ghost"
:sort="false"
@change="log"
>
<!-- -->
</draggable>
Type: String
Default: 'div'
HTML node type of the element that draggable component create as outer element for the included slot.
It is also possible to pass the name of vue component as element. In this case, draggable attribute will be passed to the create component.
See also componentData if you need to set props or event to the created component.
Type: Function
Required: false
Default: (original) => { return original;}
Function called on the source component to clone element when clone option is true. The unique argument is the viewModel element to be cloned and the returned value is its cloned version.
By default vue.draggable reuses the viewModel element, so you have to use this hook if you want to clone or deep clone it.
Type: Function
Required: false
Default: null
If not null this function will be called in a similar way as Sortable onMove callback. Returning false will cancel the drag operation.
function onMoveCallback(evt, originalEvent){
...
// return false; β for cancel
}
evt object has same property as Sortable onMove event, and 3 additional properties:
draggedContext: context linked to dragged element
index: dragged element indexelement: dragged element underlying view model elementfutureIndex: potential index of the dragged element if the drop operation is acceptedrelatedContext: context linked to current drag operation
index: target element indexelement: target element view model elementlist: target listcomponent: target VueComponentHTML:
<draggable :list="list" :move="checkMove">
javascript:
checkMove: function(evt){
return (evt.draggedContext.element.name!=='apple');
}
See complete example: Cancel.html, cancel.js
Type: Object
Required: false
Default: null
This props is used to pass additional information to child component declared by tag props.
Value:
props: props to be passed to the child componentattrs: attrs to be passed to the child componenton: events to be subscribe in the child componentExample (using element UI library):
<draggable tag="el-collapse" :list="list" :component-data="getComponentData()">
<el-collapse-item v-for="e in list" :title="e.title" :name="e.name" :key="e.name">
<div>{{e.description}}</div>
</el-collapse-item>
</draggable>
methods: {
handleChange() {
console.log('changed');
},
inputChanged(value) {
this.activeNames = value;
},
getComponentData() {
return {
on: {
change: this.handleChange,
input: this.inputChanged
},
attrs:{
wrap: true
},
props: {
value: this.activeNames
}
};
}
}
Support for Sortable events:
start, add, remove, update, end, choose, unchoose, sort, filter, clone
Events are called whenever onStart, onAdd, onRemove, onUpdate, onEnd, onChoose, onUnchoose, onSort, onClone are fired by Sortable.js with the same argument.
See here for reference
Note that SortableJS OnMove callback is mapped with the move prop
HTML:
<draggable :list="list" @end="onEnd">
change event
change event is triggered when list prop is not null and the corresponding array is altered due to drag-and-drop operation.
This event is called with one argument containing one of the following properties:
added: contains information of an element added to the array
newIndex: the index of the added elementelement: the added elementremoved: contains information of an element removed from to the array
oldIndex: the index of the element before removeelement: the removed elementmoved: contains information of an element moved within the array
newIndex: the current index of the moved elementoldIndex: the old index of the moved elementelement: the moved elementLimitation: neither header or footer slot works in conjunction with transition-group.
Use the header slot to add none-draggable element inside the vuedraggable component.
Important: it should be used in conjunction with draggable option to tag draggable element.
Note that header slot will always be added before the default slot regardless its position in the template.
Ex:
<draggable v-model="myArray" draggable=".item">
<div v-for="element in myArray" :key="element.id" class="item">
{{element.name}}
</div>
<button slot="header" @click="addPeople">Add</button>
</draggable>
Use the footer slot to add none-draggable element inside the vuedraggable component.
Important: it should be used in conjunction with draggable option to tag draggable elements.
Note that footer slot will always be added after the default slot regardless its position in the template.
Ex:
<draggable v-model="myArray" draggable=".item">
<div v-for="element in myArray" :key="element.id" class="item">
{{element.name}}
</div>
<button slot="footer" @click="addPeople">Add</button>
</draggable>
Vue.draggable children should always map the list or value prop using a v-for directive
Children elements inside v-for should be keyed as any element in Vue.js. Be carefull to provide revelant key values in particular: