Writing Clean and Lean Code with Vue

In this section, we'll be investigating how a Vue.js instance works at a lower level by looking at how this is handled by Vue. We'll also be looking at the various properties on our instance such as data, computed, watch, as well as best practices when using each one. Furthermore, we'll be looking at the various lifecycle hooks available within our Vue instance, allowing us to call particular functions at various stages of our application. Finally, we'll be investigating the Document Object Model (DOM) and why Vue implements a Virtual DOM for enhanced performance.

By the end of this chapter you will:

• Have a greater understanding of how this keyword works within JavaScript
• Understand how Vue proxies this keyword within Vue instances
• Use data properties to create reactive bindings
• Use computed properties to create declarative functions based on our data model
• Use watched properties to access asynchronous data and build upon the foundations of computed properties
• Use lifecycle hooks to activate functionality at particular stages of the Vue lifecycle
• Investigate the DOM and Virtual DOM for an understanding of how Vue renders data to the screen

To begin, let's start off by looking into how this works within JavaScript and how this relates to the context within our Vue instances.