Configuring Layouts in Nuxt.js: A Beginner's Guide
Tags: nuxt, javascript, webdev, vue
Published: 2024-05-14 13:13:20


![Configuring Layouts in Nuxt.js](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/u26xbrhfnvnxo3d1wyms.jpg)

> Check [this post](https://webcraft-notes.com/blog/configuring-layouts-in-nuxtjs-a-beginners-guide) in [my web notes](https://webcraft-notes.com/)!

In Nuxt.js, one of the fundamental building blocks is layouts—a powerful feature that shapes the overall structure and appearance of our applications. In this guide, we'll unravel the concept of layouts, exploring their significance and practical applications. From understanding their role in enhancing code organization to implementing them in real-world Nuxt.js projects, we'll dive into every aspect. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of layouts and how to leverage them effectively to streamline your development process.
## What is Layout?
A layout in Nuxt.js is a template that defines the structure of a webpage or a group of web pages within your application. It serves as a wrapper around your content, providing consistent elements such as headers, footers, and navigation bars across multiple pages. By using layouts, you can maintain a unified design scheme and simplify the management of common elements throughout your application.
## How to use Layouts?
To answer this question we will use an empty project (you can create a new one or use existed). And we need to move through a few steps:

- create a new "layouts" folder in the project root folder;

- create a new default.vue file (this will be our default layout for our project, also we do not need to add any additional configs because Nuxt that he should use this layout by default);

- we need to add some components over here like the Header and Footer, so that this component will be displayed on each page where this layout will be used;

- we need to add <slot> (it's a place where pages will be rendered);
```
<template>
    <div>
      <AppHeader />
          <slot />
      <AppFooter />
    </div>
</template>
  
<script>
import AppHeader from "@/components/navigation/AppHeader.vue";
import AppFooter from "@/components/navigation/AppFooter.vue";

export default {
  name: "DefaultLayout",
  
  components: {
    AppHeader,
    AppFooter
  }
}
</script>
```
Yes, that's it, all our pages by default will be wrapped up with this layout and will have Header and Footer. But what if we want to render some pages without a Header or Footer or Both (login page for example)? In that case, we need to create another layout, let's call him empty.vue. 
```
<template>
    <div>
        <slot />
    </div>
</template>

<script>
export default {
    name: 'EmptyLayout',
}
</script>
```
An empty layout that has only <slot> (where routes will be rendered). But now we need to add some changes to the page itself, we need to tell that page to use a different layout by using the "definePageMeta" function.
```
setup() {
    definePageMeta({ layout: 'empty' });
}
```
Now, our Login page will understand that it should not use the default layout, but instead use an empty layout.

In this guide, we've explored the fundamental concept of layouts in Nuxt.js, uncovering their significance in shaping the structure and appearance of our applications. By providing consistent elements like headers, footers, and navigation bars across multiple pages, layouts ensure a unified design scheme and simplify code organization.

With this understanding, you're now equipped to harness the power of layouts in Nuxt.js, enhancing the user experience and optimizing code organization in your projects. Happy coding!