What are the best practices for using router guards in Vue.js?

What are the best practices for using router guards in Vue.js?

When using router guards in Vue.js, it's important to keep your logic clean and maintainable. Here are some best practices:

1. Centralize your guards: Use a single file to manage all your guards for better organization.
2. Use named routes: This makes it easier to manage navigation and guards.
3. Avoid heavy logic in guards: Keep them lightweight to prevent performance issues.
4. Handle async operations properly: Use next() to control the flow, especially with API calls.
5. Test your guards: Ensure they work as expected under different scenarios.

Can you give an example of a router guard implementation?

Sure! Here's a simple example of a global before guard:

router.beforeEach((to, from, next) => {
  const isAuthenticated = // logic to check if user is authenticated;
  if (to.meta.requiresAuth && !isAuthenticated) {
    next({ name: 'Login' }); // redirect to login if not authenticated
  } else {
    next(); // proceed to the route
  }
});

What should I avoid when implementing router guards?

You should avoid:

1. Complex logic: Keep guards simple to maintain readability.
2. Blocking the main thread: Avoid synchronous operations that can freeze the UI.
3. Redundant checks: Don't repeat checks that can be centralized or optimized.

How can I test my router guards effectively?

You can test your router guards by:

1. Unit testing: Write tests for your guard functions to ensure they behave as expected.
2. Integration testing: Test the routing behavior in your application to see if guards redirect correctly.
3. Using Vue Test Utils: Leverage this library to mount components and simulate navigation.