Bootstrap-Vue is a library that integrates Bootstrap 4 components and grid system with Vue.js, allowing developers to easily create responsive and visually appealing web applications. It provides a wide range of pre-styled components such as buttons, modals, navbars, and forms that can be used in Vue.js projects without the need for additional CSS styling.
Element UI is a popular Vue.js component library that provides a set of customizable and easy-to-use UI components for building modern web applications. It offers a wide range of components such as buttons, forms, dialogs, and tables, all designed with a clean and consistent style. Element UI follows the Material Design guidelines, making it visually appealing and user-friendly.
Both Bootstrap Vue and Element UI are popular UI component libraries. Bootstrap Vue is built on top of Bootstrap and Vue.js, and has gained popularity among the Vue.js community. Element UI, on the other hand, is a standalone UI library for Vue.js and has a large user base. Both packages have active communities and regular updates.
Integration
Bootstrap Vue provides integration with the Bootstrap framework, allowing you to easily build responsive and mobile-first applications. It closely follows the design principles of Bootstrap and provides Vue.js components that adhere to its styling and structure. Element UI has its own unique set of UI components and follows a different design language that is not strictly tied to Bootstrap. It offers a fresh and modern aesthetic.
Component Variety
Bootstrap Vue provides a comprehensive set of components that cover a wide range of use cases, including layouts, forms, navigation, and more. Element UI also offers a rich set of components, including layout components, form elements, data display components, and various utility components. Both libraries provide a good selection of commonly used UI components.
Customization
Bootstrap Vue allows customization through Bootstrap's extensive theming and styling options. It provides predefined Bootstrap themes and allows you to easily override and customize styles to match your application's branding. Element UI, on the other hand, has its own theming system with a set of predefined themes. It also allows customization through variables and style overrides.
Developer Experience
Both libraries offer good developer experience. Bootstrap Vue has excellent documentation and guides, making it easy to get started and find answers to common questions. Element UI also provides comprehensive documentation and examples, although it might not be as extensive as Bootstrap Vue's documentation. Both libraries have active communities that provide support and resources.
Bundle Size
Bootstrap Vue relies on the Bootstrap framework, which includes CSS and JavaScript, resulting in larger bundle sizes. Element UI, being a standalone library, has a smaller bundle size compared to Bootstrap Vue. However, the actual impact on bundle size will depend on the specific components and features you use from each library.