Use slots Vue 3 revolutionizes component reusability in 2026 web development. Vue 3's Composition API introduces the <script setup> slots API, enabling flexible, type-safe slot passing without legacy hassles. Developers love it for scalable UIs in apps from dashboards to e-commerce sites.
This in-depth article dives into syntax, best practices, and advanced patterns. Whether upgrading from Options API or starting fresh, harness slots for cleaner, more maintainable code. Examples included for immediate implementation.
Understanding Slots in Vue 3 Composition API
Slots act as content distribution outlets, letting parents inject templates into children. Vue 3 enhances with named/default/fallback slots and v-slot shorthand.
- Default slot: Unnamed content
- Named slots: Specific placeholders
- Scoped slots: Child-to-parent data
Setting Up Slots in <script setup>
Use defineSlots() macro for type safety. Receive props-like slot data effortlessly. Example: Passing user cards into a list component.
<template>
<slot name="header" />
</template>
<script setup>
const slots = defineSlots<{
header: () => VNode<string>
}>()
</script>- Install @vue/compiler-sfc
- TypeScript integration
- Runtime checks
Advanced Slot Patterns and Best Practices
- ✓Dynamic slot names
- ✓Fallback content
- ✓Performance tips
Combine with Teleport for modals, or fragments for multi-root. Optimize renders with v-if in slots.
Real-World Vue 3 Slots Examples 2026
Build a modal, data table, and navbar. Migrate Vue 2 slots seamlessly with migration build.
- Modal with body/header slots
- Table with row/column slots
- Responsive navbar slots