Create Adaptable Composable

Adaptable composables are reusable functions that can accept both reactive and non-reactive inputs. This allows developers to use the composable in a variety of contexts without worrying about the reactivity of the inputs.

Steps to design an adaptable composable in Vue.js:

1. •Confirm the composable's purpose and API design and expected inputs/outputs.
2. •Identify inputs params that should be reactive (MaybeRef / MaybeRefOrGetter).
3. •Use toValue() or toRef() to normalize inputs inside reactive effects.
4. •Implement the core logic of the composable using Vue's reactivity APIs.

Core Type Concepts

Type Utilities

/**
 * value or writable ref (value/ref/shallowRef/writable computed)
 */
export type MaybeRef<T = any> = T | Ref<T> | ShallowRef<T> | WritableComputedRef<T>

/**
 * MaybeRef<T> + ComputedRef<T> + () => T
 */
export type MaybeRefOrGetter<T = any> = MaybeRef<T> | ComputedRef<T> | (() => T)

Policy and Rules

• •Read-only, computed-friendly input: use MaybeRefOrGetter
• •Needs to be writable / two-way input: use MaybeRef
• •Parameter might be a function value (callback/predicate/comparator): do not use MaybeRefOrGetter, or you may accidentally invoke it as a getter.
• •DOM/Element targets: if you want computed/derived targets, use MaybeRefOrGetter.

When MaybeRefOrGetter or MaybeRef is used:

• •resolve reactive value using toRef() (e.g. watcher source)
• •resolve non-reactive value using toValue()

Examples

Adaptable useDocumentTitle Composable: read-only title parameter

import { watch, toRef } from 'vue'
import type { MaybeRefOrGetter } from 'vue'

export function useDocumentTitle(title: MaybeRefOrGetter<string>) {
  watch(
    toRef(title),
    (t) => {
      document.title = t
    },
    { immediate: true }
  )
}

Adaptable useCounter Composable: two-way writable count parameter

import { watch, toRef } from 'vue'
import type { MaybeRef } from 'vue'

function useCounter(count: MaybeRef<number>) {
  const countRef = toRef(count)
  function add() {
    countRef.value++
  }
  return { add }
}