Vuetify Patterns

Quick Guide: Vuetify provides 80+ pre-styled Vue 3 components implementing Material Design. Configure with createVuetify() -- set theme for colors, defaults for global component props, and blueprint: md3 for MD3 compliance. Use v-defaults-provider for scoped prop overrides. Customize at the SASS level with @use 'vuetify/settings' for compile-time changes. Current: v3.8.x -- useRules composable for form validation, date picker improvements, performance optimizations. Vuetify is template-driven -- prefer declarative props/slots over imperative JS.

<critical_requirements>

CRITICAL: Before Using This Skill

All code must follow project conventions in CLAUDE.md (kebab-case, named exports, import ordering, import type, named constants)

(You MUST install and register Vuetify as a Vue plugin via app.use(vuetify) -- components will not render without the plugin)

(You MUST use the defaults system in createVuetify() or v-defaults-provider for consistent component props -- never repeat the same prop on every instance)

(You MUST use named slots (v-slot:item.<key>, v-slot:prepend) for component customization -- not wrapper divs with manual styling)

(You MUST define v-data-table headers and column arrays outside the component -- inline arrays cause re-renders on every parent update)

</critical_requirements>

Auto-detection: Vuetify, vuetify, createVuetify, v-btn, v-card, v-data-table, v-text-field, v-select, v-autocomplete, v-dialog, v-navigation-drawer, v-app-bar, v-toolbar, v-chip, v-snackbar, v-form, v-defaults-provider, v-theme-provider, useTheme, useDisplay, useDate, useRules, mdi, @mdi/font, vuetify/blueprints, vuetify/settings, vuetify/styles

When to use:

Building Vue 3 applications with pre-styled Material Design components
Rapid development of admin dashboards, data tables, and CRUD interfaces
Projects that benefit from a comprehensive defaults/theming system
Applications requiring built-in accessibility, RTL, and i18n support

When NOT to use:

Non-Vue projects (Vuetify is Vue-only)
Projects requiring a non-Material Design aesthetic without heavy customization
Minimal bundle size is critical and only a few components are needed (consider a headless library)
Projects using Vue 2 (Vuetify 3 requires Vue 3)

Key patterns covered:

Plugin setup with createVuetify(), themes, and blueprints
Global defaults and scoped defaults with v-defaults-provider
SASS variable customization at compile time
Slot-based component customization
Data tables with sorting, filtering, pagination, and custom column rendering
Form validation with rules arrays and useRules composable
Theme toggling and useTheme / useDisplay composables

Detailed Resources:

examples/core.md -- Plugin setup, theming, defaults, SASS variables, blueprints, TypeScript, composables
examples/data-tables.md -- v-data-table headers, slots, sorting, filtering, pagination, server-side
examples/forms.md -- v-form, validation rules, useRules, input components, custom validation
examples/layout.md -- v-app, v-app-bar, v-navigation-drawer, v-container/v-row/v-col grid, responsive patterns
reference.md -- Decision frameworks, component quick reference, anti-patterns

Philosophy

Vuetify is an opinionated, batteries-included component library. Unlike headless libraries, Vuetify ships styled components with a complete design system. Its power comes from three layers of customization:

Theme layer -- colors, dark mode, typography via createVuetify({ theme }). All components inherit automatically.
Defaults layer -- global or scoped prop values via defaults config or v-defaults-provider. Change every v-btn to variant="outlined" in one line.
SASS layer -- compile-time variable overrides via @use 'vuetify/settings'. Changes border-radius, heights, font families at the CSS level.

Vuetify 3.x key features:

Full Vue 3 Composition API support
Tree-shakeable components via vuetify-loader / vite-plugin-vuetify
Material Design 3 blueprint (md3) for MD3 compliance
Built-in composables: useTheme, useDisplay, useDate, useRules
v-defaults-provider for scoped prop cascading (unique to Vuetify)
Extensive slot system for deep component customization without CSS hacks
Built-in i18n, RTL, and accessibility

Core Patterns

Pattern 1: Plugin Setup

Every Vuetify app requires createVuetify() and app.use(). The plugin provides the theme, defaults, icons, and locale to all components.

import { createApp } from "vue";
import { createVuetify } from "vuetify";

const vuetify = createVuetify({
  theme: {
    defaultTheme: "light",
    themes: {
      light: {
        colors: {
          primary: "#1867C0",
          secondary: "#5CBBF6",
        },
      },
    },
  },
  defaults: {
    VBtn: { variant: "flat", rounded: "lg" },
    VTextField: { variant: "outlined", density: "comfortable" },
    VCard: { elevation: 2, rounded: "lg" },
  },
});

const app = createApp(App);
app.use(vuetify);
app.mount("#app");

Why good: single configuration point, all components inherit theme and default props, tree-shakeable

For blueprints, SASS variables, TypeScript augmentation, and SSR setup, see examples/core.md.

Pattern 2: Theming and Dark Mode

Define multiple themes in createVuetify and toggle with useTheme. Vuetify generates CSS variables for each theme.

<script setup>
import { useTheme } from "vuetify";

const theme = useTheme();

function toggleTheme() {
  theme.global.name.value = theme.global.current.value.dark ? "light" : "dark";
}
</script>

<template>
  <v-btn @click="toggleTheme" icon="mdi-brightness-6" />
</template>

Why good: reactive theme switching, CSS variables prevent flash of wrong theme, custom themes can extend built-in ones

For custom theme creation and color variations, see examples/core.md.

Pattern 3: Global Defaults and Scoped Defaults

The defaults system is Vuetify's most powerful consistency tool. Set props globally in createVuetify() or scope them with v-defaults-provider.

<template>
  <!-- All buttons inside this provider get these defaults -->
  <v-defaults-provider
    :defaults="{
      VBtn: { color: 'secondary', variant: 'tonal' },
      VCard: { elevation: 0, border: true },
    }"
  >
    <v-card>
      <v-card-text>
        <!-- This button is tonal + secondary without explicit props -->
        <v-btn>Scoped Default</v-btn>
      </v-card-text>
    </v-card>
  </v-defaults-provider>
</template>

Why good: eliminates prop repetition, section-specific styling without CSS, nests and cascades like CSS scoping

Pattern 4: Slot-Based Component Customization

Vuetify components expose named slots for every internal element. Use v-slot to replace or augment internal rendering.

<template>
  <v-text-field label="Amount" type="number">
    <template v-slot:prepend-inner>
      <v-icon>mdi-currency-usd</v-icon>
    </template>
    <template v-slot:append-inner>
      <v-chip size="x-small" color="success">.00</v-chip>
    </template>
  </v-text-field>
</template>

Why good: customizes internal elements without CSS overrides, type-safe slot props, preserves component behavior

For data table column slots, see examples/data-tables.md.

Pattern 5: Data Table Overview

v-data-table handles sorting, pagination, filtering, and selection. Define headers outside the template, use v-slot:item.<key> for custom column rendering.

<script setup>
const headers = [
  { title: "Name", key: "name" },
  { title: "Status", key: "status" },
  { title: "Actions", key: "actions", sortable: false },
];
</script>

<template>
  <v-data-table :items="items" :headers="headers">
    <template v-slot:item.status="{ item }">
      <v-chip
        :color="item.status === 'active' ? 'success' : 'error'"
        size="small"
      >
        {{ item.status }}
      </v-chip>
    </template>
    <template v-slot:item.actions="{ item }">
      <v-icon size="small" @click="edit(item)">mdi-pencil</v-icon>
    </template>
  </v-data-table>
</template>

Why good: headers array is stable (no re-render), slot customization per column, built-in sort/filter/paginate

For server-side data tables, expandable rows, and search, see examples/data-tables.md.

Pattern 6: Form Validation

Vuetify forms use :rules arrays on inputs. Each rule is a function returning true or an error string. The useRules composable (v3.8+) provides common validators.

<script setup>
import { ref } from "vue";
import { useRules } from "vuetify/labs/rules";

const form = ref(null);
const email = ref("");
const rules = useRules();

async function submit(event: SubmitEvent) {
  const { valid } = await form.value.validate();
  if (!valid) return;
  // proceed with submission
}
</script>

<template>
  <v-form ref="form" validate-on="submit" @submit.prevent="submit">
    <v-text-field
      v-model="email"
      label="Email"
      :rules="[rules.required(), rules.email()]"
    />
    <v-btn type="submit" color="primary">Submit</v-btn>
  </v-form>
</template>

Why good: declarative validation, useRules eliminates boilerplate rule functions, validate-on controls timing

For custom rules, multi-field validation, and input types, see examples/forms.md.

Pattern 7: Responsive Design with useDisplay

The useDisplay composable provides reactive breakpoint state. Use it for logic-driven responsive behavior (template responsiveness uses Vuetify's grid props).

<script setup>
import { useDisplay } from "vuetify";

const { mobile, mdAndUp, name } = useDisplay();
</script>

<template>
  <v-navigation-drawer v-if="mdAndUp" permanent />
  <v-navigation-drawer v-else v-model="drawer" temporary />
  <v-app-bar :density="mobile ? 'compact' : 'default'" />
</template>

Why good: reactive breakpoint booleans, avoids CSS media query duplication in script, matches Vuetify's breakpoint system

Performance

Tree-Shaking

Use vite-plugin-vuetify (Vite) or webpack-plugin-vuetify (Webpack) for automatic tree-shaking. Only imported components are bundled.

// vite.config.ts
import vuetify from "vite-plugin-vuetify";

export default {
  plugins: [vuetify({ autoImport: true })],
};

Without the plugin, import vuetify/components and vuetify/directives to include everything (larger bundle).

Stable References

// GOOD: headers defined outside component
const headers: DataTableHeader[] = [{ title: "Name", key: "name" }];

// BAD: inline array recreated every render
// <v-data-table :headers="[{ title: 'Name', key: 'name' }]" />

SASS Variable Customization vs Runtime Theming

Need to change at runtime? --> Use theme colors in createVuetify()
Need compile-time CSS changes? --> Use SASS variables (@use 'vuetify/settings')
Need per-section prop defaults? --> Use v-defaults-provider (zero CSS cost)

<red_flags>

RED FLAGS

High Priority Issues:

Missing app.use(vuetify) -- components render as empty custom elements without the plugin
Inline header/column arrays on v-data-table -- causes full table re-render on every parent update
Using this.$vuetify in Composition API -- use useTheme(), useDisplay(), useDate() composables instead
Importing vuetify/components and vuetify/directives when vite-plugin-vuetify is available -- negates tree-shaking

Medium Priority Issues:

Setting variant, density, rounded on every component instance -- use defaults in createVuetify() instead
Wrapping Vuetify components in extra divs for styling -- use the component's own props/slots/classes
Hardcoding colors (#1867C0) in templates instead of using theme colors (color="primary")
Using v-if to toggle dialogs/drawers instead of v-model -- loses transition animations and internal state

Common Mistakes:

Forgetting import 'vuetify/styles' when not using the build plugin -- no styles load at all
Using CSS !important to override Vuetify styles -- use SASS variables or class prop with higher specificity
Not setting validate-on on v-form -- defaults to input which validates on every keystroke (use "submit" or "blur lazy" for better UX)
Placing v-col without a parent v-row inside v-container -- grid system requires the full nesting

Gotchas & Edge Cases:

density accepts "default", "comfortable", "compact" -- it is NOT a numeric value
v-data-table-server is a separate component for server-side pagination -- do not use v-data-table with manual pagination
v-defaults-provider cascades -- nested providers merge with parent, later values win
useDisplay breakpoints differ from CSS breakpoints in default config (xs: 0, sm: 600, md: 960, lg: 1280, xl: 1920, xxl: 2560)
Theme variations generate -lighten-N and -darken-N color variants automatically -- do not manually define them
v-model on v-dialog controls visibility -- do not use value prop (Vue 3 v-model replaces .sync)
SASS variables require the Vite/Webpack plugin with styles.configFile pointing to your settings file

</red_flags>

<critical_reminders>

CRITICAL REMINDERS

All code must follow project conventions in CLAUDE.md (kebab-case, named exports, import ordering, import type, named constants)

(You MUST install and register Vuetify as a Vue plugin via app.use(vuetify) -- components will not render without the plugin)

(You MUST use the defaults system in createVuetify() or v-defaults-provider for consistent component props -- never repeat the same prop on every instance)

(You MUST use named slots (v-slot:item.<key>, v-slot:prepend) for component customization -- not wrapper divs with manual styling)

(You MUST define v-data-table headers and column arrays outside the component -- inline arrays cause re-renders on every parent update)

Failure to follow these rules will produce unstyled components, unnecessary re-renders, and inconsistent UI.

</critical_reminders>

web-ui-vuetify