How to use CSS modules in Vue
Łukasz Holeczek
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CSS modules in Vue provide scoped styling with automatic class name generation, preventing style conflicts while maintaining full CSS feature support.
As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve implemented CSS modules in Vue components for theme systems, component libraries, and enterprise applications requiring strict style isolation.
From my expertise, the most effective approach is to use the module attribute in Vue’s style tags.
This method provides automatic scope isolation, supports all CSS features including preprocessors, and integrates seamlessly with Vue’s template system.
Use module attribute in style tags to enable CSS modules with automatic scoped class names.
<template>
<button :class="[$style.button, { [$style.primary]: isPrimary }]">
{{ label }}
</button>
</template>
<script>
export default {
props: ['label', 'isPrimary']
}
</script>
<style module>
.button {
padding: 8px 16px;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
}
.primary {
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
}
</style>
CSS modules in Vue are enabled by adding the module attribute to style tags. Vue automatically generates unique class names and exposes them through the $style object in templates. Access classes using $style.className syntax, and combine classes using array syntax or object syntax for conditional styling. CSS modules work with preprocessors like Sass and support all CSS features including pseudo-classes, media queries, and CSS custom properties.
Best Practice Note:
This is the same approach we use in CoreUI Vue components for maintainable style isolation and theme customization.
Use named modules with <style module="classes"> for multiple CSS module blocks in one component, and combine with computed properties for complex conditional styling logic.
