How to Deploy Vue App on Netlify

Introduction

Deploying a Vue app on Netlify is an essential skill for modern web developers aiming to share their projects seamlessly with the world. Vue.js, a progressive JavaScript framework, offers developers the ability to build dynamic, reactive user interfaces with ease. Netlify, on the other hand, provides a powerful, user-friendly platform for hosting static websites and frontend applications with features like continuous deployment, custom domains, and serverless functions.

Understanding how to deploy a Vue application on Netlify not only accelerates the development process but also ensures your app is delivered quickly and reliably to users. This tutorial will provide a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on deploying your Vue app, along with best practices, useful tools, real-world examples, and answers to common questions.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare Your Vue Application

Before deploying, ensure your Vue app is production-ready. If you haven't already created a Vue project, you can start one using Vue CLI.

Steps:

• Install Vue CLI globally if not installed: npm install -g @vue/cli
• Create a new Vue project: vue create my-vue-app
• Navigate to your project directory: cd my-vue-app
• Run the development server to verify the app works locally: npm run serve

2. Build Your Vue Application for Production

Netlify serves static files, so you need to build your Vue app into static assets.

Run the build command:

npm run build

This command generates a dist folder containing the compiled and optimized static files ready for deployment.

3. Create a Netlify Account and New Site

If you don't have a Netlify account, sign up at Netlify.com. After logging in:

• Click on New site from Git if you want to deploy directly from a Git repository.
• Alternatively, you can use drag-and-drop to upload your dist folder manually.

4. Deploying via GitHub (Recommended)

For continuous deployment and easier updates, connect your Vue project repository hosted on GitHub (or GitLab, Bitbucket) to Netlify.

• Authorize Netlify to access your GitHub repositories.
• Select your Vue app repository.
• In the build settings, configure the following:
• Build command: npm run build
• Publish directory: dist

• Click Deploy site. Netlify will automatically build and deploy your app.

5. Configure Redirects for Vue Router (If Using History Mode)

If your Vue app uses vue-router in history mode, you need to handle routing correctly on Netlify to avoid 404 errors on page refresh.

Create a _redirects file inside your public folder (which will be copied to dist) with the following content:

/*    /index.html   200

This rule tells Netlify to route all requests to index.html, allowing Vue Router to handle routing on the client side.

6. Custom Domain Setup (Optional)

Netlify provides a free subdomain, but you can add a custom domain:

• Go to your site dashboard on Netlify.
• Navigate to Domain settings.
• Add your custom domain and configure your DNS records accordingly.

7. Verify Deployment

Once deployed, visit the provided Netlify URL or your custom domain to verify your Vue app is live and functioning properly.

Best Practices

Optimize Build Size

Minimize your app size by using code splitting and lazy loading components. This improves loading times and user experience.

Use Environment Variables

Configure environment variables for different deployment stages (development, staging, production) to manage API endpoints and keys securely.

Automate Deployment

Use continuous integration with Git to automate deployments on every push, ensuring your live site is always updated.

Implement HTTPS

Netlify provides free SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt. Always enable HTTPS to secure your app and improve SEO.

Monitor Performance

Use tools like Google Lighthouse to regularly audit your sites performance, accessibility, and SEO, making optimizations as needed.

Handle Error Pages Gracefully

Create custom 404 pages to enhance user experience when users navigate to non-existent routes.

Tools and Resources

Vue CLI

The official CLI to scaffold and manage Vue projects efficiently.

Netlify

A powerful platform for deploying modern web projects with features like continuous deployment, serverless functions, and global CDN.

GitHub / GitLab / Bitbucket

Source code repositories that integrate smoothly with Netlify for continuous deployment.

Vue Router

Official router for Vue.js apps. Important for managing client-side routing and requires special handling on static hosts.

Postman / Insomnia

API testing tools useful during development when your Vue app consumes backend services.

Google Lighthouse

A tool to audit your web apps performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices.

Real Examples

Example 1: Simple Vue Portfolio

A personal portfolio site built with Vue and deployed on Netlify, showcasing projects with smooth navigation using Vue Router.

Key highlights: Uses code splitting, custom domain, and continuous deployment from GitHub.

Example 2: Vue E-commerce Frontend

An e-commerce frontend built with Vue, deployed on Netlify with API integrations for product data and user authentication.

Key highlights: Environment variables for API endpoints, lazy loading of product pages, and custom 404 page for missing products.

Example 3: Vue Blog with Markdown

A blog site powered by Vue, using markdown files for content and deployed on Netlify with automatic rebuilds on content updates.

Key highlights: Automated deployments triggered by Git pushes, serverless functions for contact form, and HTTPS enabled.

FAQs

Can I deploy a Vue app on Netlify without using Git?

Yes. You can simply drag and drop the contents of the dist folder in the Netlify dashboard to deploy your app manually. However, this method lacks continuous deployment features.

How do I fix 404 errors when refreshing pages in a Vue app on Netlify?

Ensure you have a _redirects file with the content /* /index.html 200 to handle client-side routing properly.

Does Netlify support server-side rendering (SSR) for Vue?

Netlify primarily supports static site hosting. For SSR with Vue (using Nuxt.js or similar), you would typically use serverless functions or other backend services integrated with Netlify.

Is it possible to deploy multiple Vue apps on the same Netlify account?

Yes, Netlify allows multiple sites under a single account, each with its own deployment settings and domain configuration.

How do I update my Vue app after deploying on Netlify?

If you connected your repository, simply push updates to the Git branch, and Netlify will rebuild and redeploy automatically. For manual deploys, rebuild your app locally and upload the new dist folder.

Conclusion

Deploying a Vue app on Netlify is a straightforward process that unlocks powerful hosting features alongside streamlined continuous deployment workflows. By preparing your Vue project correctly, building it for production, and configuring Netlify settings such as redirects and environment variables, you can deliver a fast, reliable, and secure web application.

Following best practices like optimizing build size, using HTTPS, and automating deployments ensures your app performs well and is easy to maintain. With the help of modern tools such as Vue CLI and Netlifys platform, developers can focus more on building engaging user experiences and less on deployment complexities.

Start deploying your Vue app on Netlify today to benefit from its global CDN, instant cache invalidation, and seamless integration with your development workflow.