Executing code before reactive data changes trigger component re-renders is crucial for performance optimization and state preparation in Vue applications. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, and with over 11 years of experience in software development including Vue.js since 2014, I’ve optimized countless components where pre-update logic is essential for smooth user experiences. The most effective approach is using the onBeforeUpdate lifecycle hook in Vue 3’s Composition API, which provides the perfect timing to capture current state before changes are applied. This hook is ideal for comparing previous and current values or preparing for expensive operations.