Connecting Vue.js to a WordPress website, using axios + the WP REST api

A small reminder/checklist for myself in future projects

What I often include in my vue/wordpress projects

Vue.js

• vue.js webpack template
• my regular setup (with sass, prettier/eslint, vuex)
• axios

WordPress Plugins

• ACF PRO
• ACF to REST API
• Custom Post Type UI
• Disable Comments
• Post Types Order
• WP Migrate DB

How to setup

Load up a new vue project

# go through regular cli install, this is for vue-cli 2
npm init webpack my-project
.....
npm i axios -S
npm run dev

Install WordPress

Download the latest wordPress and unzip it at the root.

Go through the regular local wordpress install:

• start your local server to it (I use MAMP, localhost:8888)
• create your local empty database in phpmyadmin
• visit localhost:8888 and enter wp info
• install your plugins (if you use ACF, be sure to add ACF to REST API)

Create basic 'theme' for wordpress

• Delete all default themes (wordpress/wp-content/themes/)
• Create your own theme, with these necessary files:
  • functions.php
  • index.php
  • screenshot.png (1200x800)
  • style.css
• Activate the theme in the wp dashboard
• Don't forget to edit gitignore

Configuration for Vue / webpack

• config/dev.env.js

    'use strict';
    const merge = require('webpack-merge');
    const prodEnv = require('./prod.env');
  
    module.exports = merge(prodEnv, {
      NODE_ENV: '"development"',
      WP_REST_API: '"http://localhost:8888/wp-json/wp/v2/"',
    });
  

• config/prod.env.js

    'use strict';
    module.exports = {
      NODE_ENV: '"production"',
      WP_REST_API: '"https://your-production-website.com/wordpress/wp-json/wp/v2/"',
    };

• src/axios-config.js

    import axios from 'axios';
  
    export const api = axios.create({
      baseURL: process.env.WP_REST_API,
    });

Restart your server with npm run dev

You are now ready to get the data from the api 😎

Take a look at these components as quick examples:

• Home.vue (example of getting a page's content)
• Posts.vue (example of getting latest posts)

=> WP REST API Handbook