Complete Guide to Building a Vue.js CRUD Application

Complete Guide to Building a Vue.js CRUD Application
Dec 22, 2024
25 min read
8.4K views
#Vue.js#CRUD Application#Tutorial#State Management#API Integration

1. Introduction

Building robust CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) applications is a fundamental skill for modern web developers. Vue.js, with its progressive framework approach and excellent developer experience, provides an ideal foundation for creating scalable and maintainable CRUD applications. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process of building a complete Vue.js CRUD application from project setup to deployment.

What You'll Learn

  • Setting up a modern Vue.js development environment
  • Implementing comprehensive CRUD operations
  • State management with Vuex/Pinia
  • API integration with Axios
  • User interface design with Vue components
  • Form validation and error handling
  • Authentication and authorization
  • Testing strategies for Vue.js applications
  • Deployment and optimization techniques

2. Project Setup and Environment Configuration

2.1. Creating a New Vue.js Project

Start by creating a new Vue.js project using Vue CLI or Vite for optimal development experience:

# Using Vue CLI
npm install -g @vue/cli
vue create vue-crud-app

# Or using Vite (recommended for faster development)
npm create vue@latest vue-crud-app
cd vue-crud-app
npm install

2.2. Project Structure

Organize your project with a clear, scalable structure:

src/
├── components/
│   ├── common/
│   ├── forms/
│   └── modals/
├── views/
├── store/
├── services/
├── utils/
├── router/
└── assets/

2.3. Essential Dependencies

Install necessary packages for a complete CRUD application:

npm install axios vue-router@4 pinia
npm install --save-dev @types/node typescript

3. Data Layer and API Integration

3.1. API Service Setup

Create a centralized API service for consistent data handling:

// src/services/api.js
import axios from 'axios';

const API_BASE_URL = process.env.VUE_APP_API_URL || 'http://localhost:3000/api';

const apiClient = axios.create({
  baseURL: API_BASE_URL,
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
});

// Request interceptor for authentication
apiClient.interceptors.request.use(
  (config) => {
    const token = localStorage.getItem('auth_token');
    if (token) {
      config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
    }
    return config;
  },
  (error) => Promise.reject(error)
);

// Response interceptor for error handling
apiClient.interceptors.response.use(
  (response) => response,
  (error) => {
    if (error.response?.status === 401) {
      // Handle unauthorized access
      localStorage.removeItem('auth_token');
      window.location.href = '/login';
    }
    return Promise.reject(error);
  }
);

export default apiClient;

3.2. Data Models and Services

Define data models and service functions for your entities:

// src/services/userService.js
import apiClient from './api';

export const userService = {
  // Create
  createUser(userData) {
    return apiClient.post('/users', userData);
  },

  // Read
  getUsers(params = {}) {
    return apiClient.get('/users', { params });
  },

  getUserById(id) {
    return apiClient.get(`/users/${id}`);
  },

  // Update
  updateUser(id, userData) {
    return apiClient.put(`/users/${id}`, userData);
  },

  // Delete
  deleteUser(id) {
    return apiClient.delete(`/users/${id}`);
  },

  // Search
  searchUsers(query) {
    return apiClient.get('/users/search', { params: { q: query } });
  },
};

4. State Management with Pinia

4.1. Store Configuration

Set up Pinia store for centralized state management:

// src/store/index.js
import { createPinia } from 'pinia';

export const pinia = createPinia();

4.2. User Store Implementation

Create a comprehensive store for user data management:

// src/store/userStore.js
import { defineStore } from 'pinia';
import { userService } from '@/services/userService';

export const useUserStore = defineStore('user', {
  state: () => ({
    users: [],
    currentUser: null,
    loading: false,
    error: null,
    pagination: {
      page: 1,
      limit: 10,
      total: 0,
    },
  }),

  getters: {
    getUserById: (state) => (id) => {
      return state.users.find(user => user.id === id);
    },
    hasUsers: (state) => state.users.length > 0,
    totalPages: (state) => Math.ceil(state.pagination.total / state.pagination.limit),
  },

  actions: {
    async fetchUsers(params = {}) {
      this.loading = true;
      this.error = null;
      
      try {
        const response = await userService.getUsers({
          page: this.pagination.page,
          limit: this.pagination.limit,
          ...params,
        });
        
        this.users = response.data.users;
        this.pagination.total = response.data.total;
      } catch (error) {
        this.error = error.response?.data?.message || 'Failed to fetch users';
      } finally {
        this.loading = false;
      }
    },

    async createUser(userData) {
      this.loading = true;
      this.error = null;
      
      try {
        const response = await userService.createUser(userData);
        this.users.unshift(response.data);
        return response.data;
      } catch (error) {
        this.error = error.response?.data?.message || 'Failed to create user';
        throw error;
      } finally {
        this.loading = false;
      }
    },

    async updateUser(id, userData) {
      this.loading = true;
      this.error = null;
      
      try {
        const response = await userService.updateUser(id, userData);
        const index = this.users.findIndex(user => user.id === id);
        if (index !== -1) {
          this.users[index] = response.data;
        }
        return response.data;
      } catch (error) {
        this.error = error.response?.data?.message || 'Failed to update user';
        throw error;
      } finally {
        this.loading = false;
      }
    },

    async deleteUser(id) {
      this.loading = true;
      this.error = null;
      
      try {
        await userService.deleteUser(id);
        this.users = this.users.filter(user => user.id !== id);
      } catch (error) {
        this.error = error.response?.data?.message || 'Failed to delete user';
        throw error;
      } finally {
        this.loading = false;
      }
    },
  },
});

5. Component Architecture and UI Implementation

5.1. User List Component

Create a comprehensive user list with pagination and search:

<!-- src/components/UserList.vue -->
<template>
  <div class="user-list">
    <div class="list-header">
      <h2>Users</h2>
      <div class="actions">
        <input
          v-model="searchQuery"
          type="text"
          placeholder="Search users..."
          class="search-input"
          @input="handleSearch"
        />
        <button @click="showCreateModal = true" class="btn btn-primary">
          Add User
        </button>
      </div>
    </div>

    <div v-if="userStore.loading" class="loading">
      Loading users...
    </div>

    <div v-else-if="userStore.error" class="error">
      {{ userStore.error }}
    </div>

    <div v-else-if="!userStore.hasUsers" class="empty-state">
      No users found. Create your first user!
    </div>

    <div v-else class="users-grid">
      <UserCard
        v-for="user in userStore.users"
        :key="user.id"
        :user="user"
        @edit="editUser"
        @delete="deleteUser"
      />
    </div>

    <Pagination
      v-if="userStore.hasUsers"
      :current-page="userStore.pagination.page"
      :total-pages="userStore.totalPages"
      @page-change="handlePageChange"
    />

    <UserModal
      v-if="showCreateModal || editingUser"
      :user="editingUser"
      @close="closeModal"
      @save="handleSave"
    />
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue';
import { useUserStore } from '@/store/userStore';
import UserCard from './UserCard.vue';
import UserModal from './UserModal.vue';
import Pagination from './common/Pagination.vue';

const userStore = useUserStore();
const searchQuery = ref('');
const showCreateModal = ref(false);
const editingUser = ref(null);

onMounted(() => {
  userStore.fetchUsers();
});

const handleSearch = debounce(() => {
  userStore.fetchUsers({ search: searchQuery.value });
}, 300);

const handlePageChange = (page) => {
  userStore.pagination.page = page;
  userStore.fetchUsers();
};

const editUser = (user) => {
  editingUser.value = { ...user };
};

const deleteUser = async (user) => {
  if (confirm(`Are you sure you want to delete ${user.name}?`)) {
    await userStore.deleteUser(user.id);
  }
};

const closeModal = () => {
  showCreateModal.value = false;
  editingUser.value = null;
};

const handleSave = async (userData) => {
  try {
    if (editingUser.value) {
      await userStore.updateUser(editingUser.value.id, userData);
    } else {
      await userStore.createUser(userData);
    }
    closeModal();
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to save user:', error);
  }
};

// Utility function for debouncing search
function debounce(func, wait) {
  let timeout;
  return function executedFunction(...args) {
    const later = () => {
      clearTimeout(timeout);
      func(...args);
    };
    clearTimeout(timeout);
    timeout = setTimeout(later, wait);
  };
}
</script>

5.2. User Form Component

Implement a comprehensive form with validation:

<!-- src/components/UserModal.vue -->
<template>
  <div class="modal-overlay" @click="closeModal">
    <div class="modal-content" @click.stop>
      <div class="modal-header">
        <h3>{{ isEditing ? 'Edit User' : 'Create User' }}</h3>
        <button @click="closeModal" class="close-btn">&times;</button>
      </div>

      <form @submit.prevent="handleSubmit" class="user-form">
        <div class="form-group">
          <label for="name">Name *</label>
          <input
            id="name"
            v-model="formData.name"
            type="text"
            required
            :class="{ error: errors.name }"
            @blur="validateField('name')"
          />
          <span v-if="errors.name" class="error-message">{{ errors.name }}</span>
        </div>

        <div class="form-group">
          <label for="email">Email *</label>
          <input
            id="email"
            v-model="formData.email"
            type="email"
            required
            :class="{ error: errors.email }"
            @blur="validateField('email')"
          />
          <span v-if="errors.email" class="error-message">{{ errors.email }}</span>
        </div>

        <div class="form-group">
          <label for="phone">Phone</label>
          <input
            id="phone"
            v-model="formData.phone"
            type="tel"
            :class="{ error: errors.phone }"
            @blur="validateField('phone')"
          />
          <span v-if="errors.phone" class="error-message">{{ errors.phone }}</span>
        </div>

        <div class="form-group">
          <label for="role">Role</label>
          <select id="role" v-model="formData.role">
            <option value="user">User</option>
            <option value="admin">Admin</option>
            <option value="moderator">Moderator</option>
          </select>
        </div>

        <div class="form-actions">
          <button type="button" @click="closeModal" class="btn btn-secondary">
            Cancel
          </button>
          <button type="submit" :disabled="!isFormValid" class="btn btn-primary">
            {{ isEditing ? 'Update' : 'Create' }}
          </button>
        </div>
      </form>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { ref, computed, reactive, watch } from 'vue';

const props = defineProps({
  user: {
    type: Object,
    default: null,
  },
});

const emit = defineEmits(['close', 'save']);

const isEditing = computed(() => !!props.user);

const formData = reactive({
  name: '',
  email: '',
  phone: '',
  role: 'user',
});

const errors = reactive({
  name: '',
  email: '',
  phone: '',
});

// Initialize form data
watch(
  () => props.user,
  (user) => {
    if (user) {
      Object.assign(formData, user);
    } else {
      Object.assign(formData, {
        name: '',
        email: '',
        phone: '',
        role: 'user',
      });
    }
    // Clear errors when user changes
    Object.keys(errors).forEach(key => errors[key] = '');
  },
  { immediate: true }
);

const validateField = (field) => {
  errors[field] = '';
  
  switch (field) {
    case 'name':
      if (!formData.name?.trim()) {
        errors.name = 'Name is required';
      } else if (formData.name.length < 2) {
        errors.name = 'Name must be at least 2 characters';
      }
      break;
      
    case 'email':
      const emailPattern = /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/;
      if (!formData.email?.trim()) {
        errors.email = 'Email is required';
      } else if (!emailPattern.test(formData.email)) {
        errors.email = 'Please enter a valid email address';
      }
      break;
      
    case 'phone':
      if (formData.phone && !/^\+?[\d\s-()]+$/.test(formData.phone)) {
        errors.phone = 'Please enter a valid phone number';
      }
      break;
  }
};

const isFormValid = computed(() => {
  return formData.name?.trim() && 
         formData.email?.trim() && 
         !errors.name && 
         !errors.email && 
         !errors.phone;
});

const handleSubmit = () => {
  // Validate all fields
  Object.keys(errors).forEach(validateField);
  
  if (isFormValid.value) {
    emit('save', { ...formData });
  }
};

const closeModal = () => {
  emit('close');
};
</script>

6. Routing and Navigation

6.1. Router Configuration

Set up Vue Router for application navigation:

// src/router/index.js
import { createRouter, createWebHistory } from 'vue-router';
import Home from '@/views/Home.vue';
import Users from '@/views/Users.vue';
import UserDetail from '@/views/UserDetail.vue';

const routes = [
  {
    path: '/',
    name: 'Home',
    component: Home,
  },
  {
    path: '/users',
    name: 'Users',
    component: Users,
  },
  {
    path: '/users/:id',
    name: 'UserDetail',
    component: UserDetail,
    props: true,
  },
];

const router = createRouter({
  history: createWebHistory(),
  routes,
});

export default router;

7. Testing Strategies

7.1. Unit Testing with Vitest

Implement comprehensive unit tests for your components and stores:

// tests/components/UserList.test.js
import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from 'vitest';
import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
import { createPinia, setActivePinia } from 'pinia';
import UserList from '@/components/UserList.vue';
import { useUserStore } from '@/store/userStore';

describe('UserList', () => {
  beforeEach(() => {
    setActivePinia(createPinia());
  });

  it('displays users correctly', async () => {
    const userStore = useUserStore();
    userStore.users = [
      { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', email: '[email protected]' },
      { id: 2, name: 'Jane Smith', email: '[email protected]' },
    ];

    const wrapper = mount(UserList);
    
    expect(wrapper.findAll('[data-testid="user-card"]')).toHaveLength(2);
    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('John Doe');
    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Jane Smith');
  });

  it('shows loading state', () => {
    const userStore = useUserStore();
    userStore.loading = true;

    const wrapper = mount(UserList);
    
    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Loading users...');
  });
});

8. Performance Optimization

8.1. Code Splitting and Lazy Loading

Implement route-based code splitting:

// src/router/index.js
const routes = [
  {
    path: '/users',
    name: 'Users',
    component: () => import('@/views/Users.vue'),
  },
  {
    path: '/admin',
    name: 'Admin',
    component: () => import('@/views/Admin.vue'),
  },
];

8.2. Virtual Scrolling for Large Lists

Implement virtual scrolling for handling large datasets:

<!-- src/components/VirtualUserList.vue -->
<template>
  <div class="virtual-list" ref="container" @scroll="handleScroll">
    <div :style="{ height: `${totalHeight}px` }" class="list-container">
      <div
        v-for="item in visibleItems"
        :key="item.id"
        :style="{ transform: `translateY(${item.top}px)` }"
        class="list-item"
      >
        <UserCard :user="item.data" />
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

9. Deployment and Production Optimization

9.1. Build Configuration

Optimize your build for production:

// vite.config.js
import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import vue from '@vitejs/plugin-vue';

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [vue()],
  build: {
    rollupOptions: {
      output: {
        manualChunks: {
          vendor: ['vue', 'vue-router', 'pinia'],
          utils: ['axios', 'lodash'],
        },
      },
    },
  },
  resolve: {
    alias: {
      '@': '/src',
    },
  },
});

9.2. Environment Configuration

Set up environment-specific configurations:

// .env.production
VUE_APP_API_URL=https://api.yourdomain.com
VUE_APP_ENVIRONMENT=production

// .env.development
VUE_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:3000/api
VUE_APP_ENVIRONMENT=development

10. Conclusion

This comprehensive guide has covered all aspects of building a robust Vue.js CRUD application, from initial setup to production deployment. By following these patterns and best practices, you'll be able to create scalable, maintainable applications that can grow with your project requirements.

Key Takeaways

  • Component Architecture: Break down your application into reusable, focused components
  • State Management: Use Pinia for centralized state management and predictable data flow
  • API Integration: Implement consistent API patterns with proper error handling
  • Form Validation: Provide comprehensive validation with clear user feedback
  • Testing: Maintain code quality with thorough unit and integration tests
  • Performance: Optimize for production with code splitting and efficient rendering
  • Documentation: Keep your code well-documented for team collaboration

With these foundations in place, you're well-equipped to build sophisticated Vue.js applications that deliver excellent user experiences and maintainable codebases.

About The Author

Alex Chen

Alex Chen

Senior Frontend Developer at Codia AI, specializing in design-to-code automation

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