How to Build SPAs With TypeScript and Vue

Single Page Applications (SPAs) have become increasingly popular due to their dynamic user interfaces and seamless experiences. Leveraging TypeScript and Vue.js offers an efficient method to create robust SPAs. In this article, we’ll delve into the steps to construct a SPA using TypeScript and Vue.

Why Choose TypeScript and Vue?

TypeScript adds static typing to JavaScript, allowing developers to catch errors at compile time, improving the overall development experience. Vue.js, known for its simplicity and flexibility, allows for building interactive user interfaces efficiently. Together, they provide a powerful toolkit for developing SPAs.

Setting Up Your Project

To get started on your SPA with TypeScript and Vue, you need to set up your development environment. Follow these steps:

Install Node.js: Make sure you have Node.js installed on your system. You can download it from the official Node.js website.
Set Up Vue CLI: Utilize the Vue CLI to initiate a new project. Open your terminal and run the following command:

npm install -g @vue/cli

Create a New Project: Now, create a new Vue project using TypeScript. Execute the following command:

vue create my-spa --preset typescript

This command creates a new Vue project named "my-spa" with TypeScript support.

Understanding Project Structure

After creating your project, familiarize yourself with the structure:

src: Contains your application’s source code.
components: Store your Vue components here.
views: This directory is for your different views or pages.
router: Contains your routing configurations.

Setting Up Vue Router

For SPAs, managing navigation between pages is crucial. Vue Router simplifies this process. To add it to your project, follow these steps:

Install Vue Router: Run the command below in your project directory:

npm install vue-router

Create Routes: In the router directory, create an index.ts file. Define your routes:


import { createRouter, createWebHistory } from 'vue-router'
import Home from '../views/Home.vue'
import About from '../views/About.vue'
const routes = [
  { path: '/', component: Home },
  { path: '/about', component: About }
]
const router = createRouter({
  history: createWebHistory(),
  routes
})
export default router

Integrate Router into Your Application: Update your main.ts file to include the router:


import { createApp } from 'vue'
import App from './App.vue'
import router from './router'
const app = createApp(App)
app.use(router)
app.mount('#app')

Creating Components

Vue components allow you to build reusable elements. Create your components within the components directory. Here’s a basic example:

Using Axios for API Calls

To fetch data from an API, you can use Axios. Install it with the command:

npm install axios

Then, import it into your component and use it to make API calls:


import axios from 'axios'
axios.get('https://api.example.com/data')
  .then(response => {
    console.log(response.data)
  })
  .catch(error => {
    console.error(error)
  })

How to Build SPAs With TypeScript and Vue