WordPress is one of the most used CMS in the world, powering over 43.6% of all websites. Many websites power their CMS with WordPress while they use their other technology to build the front-end and display. This is known as a headless WordPress site.
Headless WordPress has a lot of potential benefits, making it extremely popular among developers. It offers immense flexibility, giving developers the freedom to choose any front-end design, making websites faster and more responsive while also allowing for better customisation.
If you’re building a website on WordPress, you might be wondering which JavaScript framework is better for headless WordPress: Vue or React? Read on to find out.
Vue.js is an advanced JavaScript framework that’s known for being very easy to use, making it a good choice for developers of all proficiency levels. What makes WordPress and Vue such great choices is that they support both client-side rendering (CSR) and server-side rendering (SSR). The biggest advantage of Vue.js is that it can be integrated into existing projects without too much effort.
React is an open-source JavaScript library required for building user interfaces. React helps to create an interactive UI. This JS library is particularly handy for web developers looking to create complex and reusable components.
When you work on headless WordPress with React, you’ll benefit from advantages including a declarative syntax, a virtual DOM, and a large community and ecosystem.
Before you decide between headless WordPress: Vue or React, let’s look into the pros and cons of both.
Starting with the benefits of headless WordPress and Vue.js:
WordPress is primarily based on HTML and PHP, and Vue’s template is extremely intuitive, making it easy to learn and use.
Vue.js is very lightweight because its bundle size is much smaller compared to React. This helps to improve the efficiency and performance of headless WordPress sites that use Vue.js.
Another key advantage of Vue.js is that it can be easily integrated into a WordPress website.
It’s also easily readable because of its single file components (SFCs). This helps Vue to readily maintain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
Finally, Vue has a component called Nuxt.js, which has a built-in SSR and static site generation (SSG) that helps to improve a website’s SEO.
The advantages of headless WordPress with React.js include:
React has been created and maintained by Meta, offering a strong community and support.
If you’re looking to build a large website to expand over the year, then React is much better suited than Vue.js because it’s easily scalable.
React.js uses a virtual DOM for efficient rendering, helping optimise website performance.
If you’re planning to incorporate different plugins and third-party APIs to boost your website’s performance, then React is a better option than Vue.
React offers the best framework for SSR and SSG for improving SEO.
Next, let’s look at the disadvantages of headless WordPress and Vue.js:
Vue.js has a smaller ecosystem with fewer libraries, tools, and options for third-party plugins. This makes it challenging to integrate new functionalities or scale it at a larger level.
Because Vue is better for smaller applications, it’s not suitable for businesses that require more extensive services.
This development server doesn’t have corporate backing like React.
The disadvantages of headless WordPress with React.js include:
React has a much steeper learning curve than Vue. This makes it more suitable for experienced developers; beginners may find it too challenging.
Websites built using React are often denser because of the server’s larger bundle size, leading to lower loading speed.
React also needs extensive setup and configuration.
Both Vue and React have their own set of pros and cons, and the best choice for you depends on your specific requirements. We hope this article helps you to decide between headless WordPress: Vue or React.
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