Create Agnostic Composable

Create Agnostic Composable

Agnostic 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 agnostic 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 | Ref | ShallowRef | WritableComputedRef;

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

Agnostic useDocumentTitle Composable: read-only title parameter

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

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

Agnostic useCounter Composable: two-way writable count parameter

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

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

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: serkodev
• Source: serkodev/vue-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.