Introduction

In this tutorial, we will learn about using Nuxt.js plugins in our applications. Plugins are a vital part of Nuxt.js as they help you include external libraries in your project or write your own functions that can be used across your application. We will learn how to include these plugins in our configuration file and then how to use the functionalities they provide.

You will learn:

• What Nuxt.js plugins are
• How to create your own plugin
• How to include and use plugins in your Nuxt.js application

Prerequisites:

• Basic knowledge of JavaScript
• Familiarity with Vue.js and Nuxt.js

Step-by-Step Guide

Concept

Nuxt.js plugins are used to do some work before the root vue.js Application is instantiated. For example, they can be used to register functions or directives, inject content into the root instance, or add libraries into your project.

Including Plugins in Your Configuration File

To include a plugin, you need to add it to the plugins array in your nuxt.config.js file.

module.exports = {
  plugins: [
    '~/plugins/my-plugin.js'
  ]
}

The path to the plugin file is relative to your project root.

Using Plugins

You can use the functionalities provided by the plugins in your Vue components like this:

export default {
  mounted() {
    this.$myPluginFunction()
  }
}

Code Examples

Creating Your Own Plugin

Let's create a simple plugin that adds a function to our Vue instance. Create a new file in the plugins directory and name it my-plugin.js.

// plugins/my-plugin.js
export default function (context, inject) {
  // Inject $helloWorld in Vue, context and store.
  inject('helloWorld', () => console.log('Hello World!'))
}

After adding the plugin to your nuxt.config.js file, you can use this function in your Vue components:

export default {
  mounted() {
    this.$helloWorld()
  }
}

When you run your application, you should see 'Hello World!' in the console.

Summary

In this tutorial, we have learned what Nuxt.js plugins are and how to include them in our application. We created our own simple plugin and used its function in a Vue component.

For further learning, you can explore how to use external libraries as plugins and how to inject content into the Vue instance.

Practice Exercises

1. Create a plugin that adds a function to the Vue instance that logs 'Hello Nuxt.js!'.
2. Create a plugin that injects an external library (like lodash or axios) into the Vue instance.
3. Modify the first exercise to inject the function into the context and the store, not only the Vue instance.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the more fluent you will become in using Nuxt.js plugins.

Solutions

1. Here's a simple solution for the first exercise:

// plugins/hello-nuxt.js
export default function (context, inject) {
  inject('helloNuxt', () => console.log('Hello Nuxt.js!'))
}

You can use this function in your Vue components:

export default {
  mounted() {
    this.$helloNuxt()
  }
}

1. To inject an external library, you first need to install it (e.g. npm install lodash). Then you can create a plugin for it:

// plugins/lodash.js
import lodash from 'lodash'

export default function (context, inject) {
  inject('lodash', lodash)
}

1. To inject the function into the context and store, you simply need to pass 'context' as the first argument to the function:

// plugins/hello-nuxt.js
export default function (context, inject) {
  inject('helloNuxt', (msg) => console.log(`Hello ${msg}!`))
  context.$helloNuxt('Nuxt.js')
  if (context.store) {
    context.store.$helloNuxt = (msg) => console.log(`Hello ${msg}!`)
    context.store.$helloNuxt('Store')
  }
}

With practice, you'll become more and more comfortable with using and creating Nuxt.js plugins. Happy coding!