How to Dynamically Change HTML Element Attributes in Vue with refs

Learn how to effectively use Vue's `$refs` to change the `href` attribute of a link element in your components seamlessly.
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Changing HTML Element Attributes Using Vue $refs

The Problem: Accessing and Changing the href Attribute

In our case, you might have a situation where an element, such as a link, is defined in a component and you wish to change its href attribute dynamically, perhaps in response to a click event. For example, you might start with a link that looks like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You might expect to change the href using:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, this can lead to two potential issues:

You may receive an error such as "Property 'href' does not exist on type 'Vue'", indicating that the TypeScript typings are not recognizing the $refs as having a property of href.

The Solution: Use Reactive Properties

Instead of directly manipulating the DOM via $refs, a better approach would be to use Vue's reactive data properties. This is more in line with how Vue is designed and allows for better state management and reactivity across your application. Here’s how you can accomplish this:

Step 1: Use :href Binding

Modify your link element to use Vue's v-bind directive or : shorthand for data binding. This way, the href attribute is directly tied to a data property:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Define a Reactive Property in Your Component

Next, you'll need to define a data property in your Vue component that holds the URL value. Here's how your script should look:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Advantages of This Method

Cleaner Code: By utilizing Vue's reactivity system, your code remains clean and maintainable.

Conclusion

By opting for reactive properties over direct DOM manipulation through $refs, you can create a more robust and Vue-compliant application structure. This not only enhances the maintainability of your code but also aligns with the best practices recommended within the Vue ecosystem.