Options API is suitable for small projects and beginners, with clear structure but logically scattered, and difficult to reuse; 2. Composition API is suitable for complex scenarios and large projects, with strong logic concentration and strong reusability, and better support for TypeScript; 3. The choice should be based on project scale, team habits and maintenance needs, and can be mixed and gradually migrated; 4. It is recommended to directly use Composition API <script setup> for new projects to obtain better maintainability and development experience, and the final choice should serve team collaboration and long-term maintainability rather than technical preferences.

Vue 3 provides two ways to write component logic: Composition API and Options API . Both can achieve the same functionality, but there are significant differences in organizational code, logical reuse, and readability. Which one to choose depends on your project needs, team habits, and long-term maintenance goals.

1. Options API: Traditional writing, clear structure but scattered logic

The Options API is the mainstream writing method in Vue 2 and is also the first way for many beginners to come across. You organize component logic through options such as data , methods , computed , watch , etc.

 export default {
  data() {
    return {
      count: 0
    }
  },
  methods: {
    increment() {
      this.count  
    }
  },
  computed: {
    doubled() {
      return this.count * 2
    }
  }
}

advantage:

• Clear structure, suitable for small components or beginners.
• Each option has clear responsibilities and is easy to get started.
• Use this directly in the template for intuitive debugging.

shortcoming:

• Logical scatter: When the component becomes larger, code of the same function (such as "counter logic") is split into different areas such as data , methods , and computed , which is difficult to maintain.
• Difficulty of reuse: Logical multiplexing depends on mixins, but mixins are prone to naming conflicts and implicit dependencies.

Suitable for: small and medium-sized projects, team members are not familiar with Vue, and are rapid prototyping.

2. Composition API: Logical concentration, more suitable for complex scenarios

The Composition API is a new feature of Vue 3 that allows you to organize your code by logical functions rather than by option types. The core is setup() function and reactive API (such as ref and reactive ).

 import { ref, calculated } from 'vue'

export default {
  setup() {
    const count = ref(0)
    const doubled = computed(() => count.value * 2)
    const increment = () => count.value  

    return {
      count,
      doubled,
      Increment
    }
  }
}

advantage:

• Logical concentration : variables, calculation properties and methods related to "counter" can be written together for easy understanding and maintenance.
• Better logical reuse : Encapsulate reusable logic through custom Hooks (such as useCounter ) to avoid mixins problems.
• Better TypeScript support : Type derivation is more accurate, IDE support is better.
• More flexible code organization, especially suitable for large applications or complex components.

shortcoming:

• The learning cost is slightly high, and you need to understand responsive APIs such as ref , reactive , and computed .
• Beginners may not be used to the way value is accessed ( ref requires .value ).
• Use of variables in templates requires explicit return, which is a bit cumbersome.

Suitable for: medium and large projects, teams with TypeScript experience, need high reusability or complex state management.

3. How to choose? The key is team and project

Vue does not force you to use only one. You can mix two APIs in the same project and make a step-by-step transition.

4. Practical suggestions: Start a new project from the Composition API

If you are:

• New Project
• Teams are willing to learn new grammar
• Plan long-term maintenance

It is recommended to use the Composition API <script setup> syntax sugar directly :

 <script setup>
import { ref, calculated } from &#39;vue&#39;

const count = ref(0)
const doubled = computed(() => count.value * 2)
const increment = () => count.value  

// Automatically expose to templates, no need to return
</script>

<template>
  <div>
    <p>{{ count }}</p>
    <p>{{ doubled }}</p>
    <button @click="increment"> </button>
  </div>
</template>

This writing style is simpler and logically concentrated, which is the recommended trend of Vue 3.

Basically that's it. Not complicated, but it is easy to ignore: choosing an API is not a technical competition, but for teamwork and long-term maintainability . The Composition API is more modern and flexible, while the Options API is still reliable and easy to understand. According to the actual situation, the best choice is.

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