# Conventions

Coding patterns specific to Nuxt UI.

## Auto-registered modules

Nuxt UI automatically registers `@nuxt/icon`, `@nuxt/fonts`, and `@nuxtjs/color-mode`. Do **not** add them to your `modules` array. Configure them via root-level keys in `nuxt.config.ts`:

```ts
// nuxt.config.ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['@nuxt/ui'],
  icon: { /* @nuxt/icon options */ },
  fonts: { /* @nuxt/fonts options */ },
  colorMode: { /* @nuxtjs/color-mode options */ }
})
```

Disable any of them: `ui: { fonts: false }`, `ui: { colorMode: false }`.

## Content module integration

When using `@nuxt/content`, it **must** come after `@nuxt/ui` in the `modules` array — otherwise prose components won't be available:

```ts
// nuxt.config.ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['@nuxt/ui', '@nuxt/content']
})
```

Add `@source` in your CSS so Tailwind generates classes used in markdown/MDC:

```css
/* app/assets/css/main.css */
@import "tailwindcss";
@import "@nuxt/ui";

@source "../../../content/**/*";
```

Use `mapContentNavigation` to transform content navigation for components like `UBreadcrumb`:

```ts
import { mapContentNavigation } from '@nuxt/ui/utils/content'
import { findPageBreadcrumb } from '@nuxt/content/utils'

const breadcrumb = computed(() =>
  mapContentNavigation(findPageBreadcrumb(navigation.value, page.value?.path))
)
```

## IDE setup

Recommended `.vscode/settings.json` for Tailwind IntelliSense autocomplete with Nuxt UI:

```json
{
  "files.associations": { "*.css": "tailwindcss" },
  "editor.quickSuggestions": { "strings": "on" },
  "tailwindCSS.classAttributes": ["class", "ui"],
  "tailwindCSS.classFunctions": ["defineAppConfig"]
}
```

## UApp wrapper

Always wrap your app in `UApp` — it provides:
- Toast container (`useToast`)
- Tooltip provider
- Programmatic overlay context (`useOverlay`)
- i18n locale support

```vue
<UApp :locale="fr">
  <NuxtPage /> <!-- or <RouterView /> for Vue -->
</UApp>
```

## Icons

Nuxt UI registers `@nuxt/icon` automatically. Format: `i-{collection}-{name}`. Prefer `lucide` collection.

```vue
<UIcon name="i-lucide-sun" class="size-5" />
<UButton icon="i-lucide-plus" label="Add" />
<UAlert icon="i-lucide-info" title="Heads up" />
```

Install collections locally for reliable SSR and best performance:

```bash
pnpm i @iconify-json/lucide
pnpm i @iconify-json/simple-icons
```

Custom local collections (Nuxt only):

```ts
// nuxt.config.ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  icon: {
    customCollections: [{
      prefix: 'custom',
      dir: './app/assets/icons'
    }]
  }
})
```

### Default icon overrides

Components like `Modal`, `Select`, `Accordion`, etc. use default icons from `appConfig.ui.icons`. Override them globally:

```ts
// app.config.ts
export default defineAppConfig({
  ui: {
    icons: {
      loading: 'i-lucide-refresh-cw',
      close: 'i-lucide-x',
      check: 'i-lucide-check',
      chevronDown: 'i-lucide-chevron-down',
      chevronRight: 'i-lucide-chevron-right',
      arrowLeft: 'i-lucide-arrow-left',
      arrowRight: 'i-lucide-arrow-right'
    }
  }
})
```

## Slot patterns

Most components follow consistent slot naming:

| Slot | Used by | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| `#header` | Card, Modal, Slideover, DashboardPanel | Top section |
| `#body` | DashboardPanel | Scrollable content area |
| `#footer` | Card, Modal, Slideover, DashboardPanel | Bottom section |
| `#left` | Page, DashboardNavbar | Left sidebar or content |
| `#right` | Page, DashboardNavbar, Header | Right sidebar or content |
| `#leading` | Input, Button, Alert | Before main content (icon area) |
| `#trailing` | Input, Button | After main content (icon area) |
| `#content` | Modal, Slideover, Popover, Tooltip | Full content override |
| `#default` | Most components | Main content area |

## Items arrays

Many components accept an `items` prop. Two patterns:

**Flat array** — plain list:

```ts
const items = [
  { label: 'Edit', icon: 'i-lucide-pencil' },
  { label: 'Delete', icon: 'i-lucide-trash', color: 'error' }
]
```

**Nested array** — groups with automatic separators between them:

```ts
const items = [
  [
    { label: 'Edit', icon: 'i-lucide-pencil' },
    { label: 'Duplicate', icon: 'i-lucide-copy' }
  ],
  [
    { label: 'Delete', icon: 'i-lucide-trash', color: 'error' }
  ]
]
```

Components supporting nested arrays: `UDropdownMenu`, `UContextMenu`, `UCommandPalette`, `UNavigationMenu`.

## Composables

### useToast

```ts
const toast = useToast()

toast.add({
  title: 'Success',
  description: 'Item saved',
  color: 'success',
  icon: 'i-lucide-check-circle',
  duration: 5000,
  actions: [{ label: 'Undo', onClick: () => {} }]
})

toast.remove('toast-id')
toast.clear()
```

### useOverlay

Programmatic modals, slideovers, drawers — no template `v-model` needed. See [overlays recipe](../recipes/overlays.md) for full patterns.

```ts
const overlay = useOverlay()
const modal = overlay.create(MyComponent)
const instance = modal.open({ title: 'Confirm?' })
if (await instance.result) { /* confirmed */ }
```

### defineShortcuts

```ts
defineShortcuts({
  meta_k: () => openSearch(),
  escape: () => close(),
  meta_enter: {
    handler: () => submit(),
    whenever: [isFormValid]
  }
})
```

Keys: `meta` (Cmd/Ctrl), `ctrl`, `alt`, `shift`. Separator: `_`.

### extractShortcuts

Wire up keyboard shortcuts from menu items:

```ts
const items = [
  { label: 'New file', kbds: ['meta', 'n'], onSelect: () => newFile() },
  { label: 'Save', kbds: ['meta', 's'], onSelect: () => save() }
]

defineShortcuts(extractShortcuts(items))
```

### Internationalization (i18n)

Nuxt UI supports 50+ locales. Set the locale on `UApp` — all components inherit it.

#### Static locale

```vue
<script setup lang="ts">
import { fr } from '@nuxt/ui/locale'
</script>

<template>
  <UApp :locale="fr">
    <NuxtPage />
  </UApp>
</template>
```

#### Extend a built-in locale

`extendLocale` is auto-imported. Override specific messages or the `code` (affects date/time formatting in Calendar, InputDate, InputTime):

```ts
import { en } from '@nuxt/ui/locale'

const locale = extendLocale(en, {
  code: 'en-AU',
  messages: {
    commandPalette: { placeholder: 'Search a component...' }
  }
})
```

#### Custom locale from scratch

```ts
import type { Messages } from '@nuxt/ui'

const locale = defineLocale<Messages>({
  name: 'My locale',
  code: 'en',
  dir: 'ltr',
  messages: {
    // all component message keys
  }
})
```

#### Dynamic locale with @nuxtjs/i18n

```ts
// nuxt.config.ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  modules: ['@nuxt/ui', '@nuxtjs/i18n'],
  i18n: {
    locales: [
      { code: 'en', name: 'English' },
      { code: 'fr', name: 'Français' },
      { code: 'ar', name: 'العربية' }
    ]
  }
})
```

```vue
<script setup lang="ts">
import * as locales from '@nuxt/ui/locale'

const { locale } = useI18n()

const lang = computed(() => locales[locale.value]?.code)
const dir = computed(() => locales[locale.value]?.dir)

useHead({
  htmlAttrs: { lang, dir }
})
</script>

<template>
  <UApp :locale="locales[locale]">
    <NuxtPage />
  </UApp>
</template>
```

Each locale has a `dir` property (`'ltr'` or `'rtl'`). `UApp` uses it to set directionality on all components. Use `useHead` to propagate `lang` and `dir` to the `<html>` element.

## Color mode

Nuxt UI registers `@nuxtjs/color-mode` automatically. Built-in components for switching:
- `UColorModeButton` — single button toggle (light/dark)
- `UColorModeSwitch` — toggle switch
- `UColorModeSelect` — dropdown with system/light/dark options
- `UColorModeAvatar` — displays different avatar per mode
- `UColorModeImage` — displays different image per mode

For custom color mode UI, use `useColorMode` with `ClientOnly` to avoid hydration mismatch:

```vue
<script setup lang="ts">
const colorMode = useColorMode()

const isDark = computed({
  get: () => colorMode.value === 'dark',
  set: (v) => { colorMode.preference = v ? 'dark' : 'light' }
})
</script>

<template>
  <ClientOnly>
    <USwitch v-model="isDark" />
    <template #fallback>
      <div class="size-8" />
    </template>
  </ClientOnly>
</template>
```

## Official templates

Bootstrap a project from a template instead of starting from scratch:

```bash
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui              # Starter
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/dashboard    # Dashboard
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/docs         # Docs (Nuxt Content)
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/landing      # Landing page
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/saas         # SaaS (landing + pricing + docs + blog)
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/chat         # AI chat (Vercel AI SDK)
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/editor       # Rich text editor
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/portfolio    # Portfolio
npx nuxi@latest init -t ui/changelog    # Changelog
```

## Responsive patterns

- Dashboard sidebar hides on mobile, shows a slideover/drawer via `UDashboardSidebar` `mode` prop
- `UHeader` body slot is the mobile menu content (shown when hamburger is tapped)
- Most components handle responsiveness automatically — avoid manual breakpoint classes unless needed
- Use `UPageAside` for sidebars that should hide below `lg` breakpoint