Vue Router: The Ultimate Guide to Route Names and Paths

When working with Vue Router, one of the most common questions that arise is whether it’s possible to have multiple routes with the same path but different names. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of Vue Router and explore the possibilities of achieving this functionality, at least for test purposes.

Understanding Vue Router Basics

Route Configuration

In Vue Router, routes are defined using the routes array in the router configuration. Each route object typically consists of three properties: path, component, and name. The path property specifies the URL path that the route should match, the component property specifies the component that should be rendered when the route is matched, and the name property specifies a unique name for the route.

const routes = [
  {
    path: '/',
    component: HomePage,
    name: 'home'
  },
  {
    path: '/about',
    component: AboutPage,
    name: 'about'
  }
]

The Problem: Same Path, Different Names?

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter. What if we want to define two routes with the same path but different names? For example, suppose we want to have two routes, myRouteA and myRouteB, both mapping to the same path /my-path. Can we do this?

const routes = [
  {
    path: '/my-path',
    component: MyComponentA,
    name: 'myRouteA'
  },
  {
    path: '/my-path',
    component: MyComponentB,
    name: 'myRouteB'
  }
]

In Vue Router, the answer is no, you can’t define two routes with the same path but different names. Vue Router will throw an error when it encounters duplicate paths. This is because Vue Router uses the path as a unique identifier for each route, and duplicate paths would create ambiguity.

A Workaround for Test Purposes

So, is there a way to achieve this functionality, at least for test purposes? The answer is yes, but with some creative workarounds. One possible solution is to use route parameters.

Route Parameters to the Rescue

Vue Router allows you to define route parameters using the colon (:) syntax in the path. For example, we can define a route with a parameter like this:

const routes = [
  {
    path: '/my-path/:type',
    component: MyComponent,
    name: 'myRoute'
  }
]

In this example, the route path includes a parameter :type, which can be either A or B. We can then use this parameter to determine which component to render.

A Test-Friendly Solution

Now, let’s apply this concept to our original problem. We can define two routes with the same path but different names, by using a route parameter to distinguish between the two.

const routes = [
  {
    path: '/my-path/:type(A)',
    component: MyComponentA,
    name: 'myRouteA'
  },
  {
    path: '/my-path/:type(B)',
    component: MyComponentB,
    name: 'myRouteB'
  }
]

In this example, we’ve added a route parameter :type to both routes, with a default value of either A or B. We can then use this parameter to determine which component to render.

Testing Route Names

Now that we have our routes defined, let’s see how we can test them. We’ll use Jest and Vue Testing Library to write some tests.

import { render, fireEvent, waitFor } from '@vue/testing-library';
import { createLocalVue, shallowMount } from '@vue/test-utils';
import VueRouter from 'vue-router';
import MyComponentA from './MyComponentA.vue';
import MyComponentB from './MyComponentB.vue';

const localVue = createLocalVue();
localVue.use(VueRouter);

const router = new VueRouter({
  routes: [
    {
      path: '/my-path/:type(A)',
      component: MyComponentA,
      name: 'myRouteA'
    },
    {
      path: '/my-path/:type(B)',
      component: MyComponentB,
      name: 'myRouteB'
    }
  ]
});

describe('Route Names', () => {
  it('renders MyComponentA when route name is myRouteA', async () => {
    const { getByText } = render(MyComponentA, { router });
    await router.push({ name: 'myRouteA', params: { type: 'A' } });
    expect(getByText('MyComponentA')).toBeInTheDocument();
  });

  it('renders MyComponentB when route name is myRouteB', async () => {
    const { getByText } = render(MyComponentB, { router });
    await router.push({ name: 'myRouteB', params: { type: 'B' } });
    expect(getByText('MyComponentB')).toBeInTheDocument();
  });
});

In this example, we’ve defined two tests, each checking that the correct component is rendered when the corresponding route name is used.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the possibilities of having multiple routes with the same path but different names in Vue Router. While it’s not possible to define such routes directly, we can use creative workarounds like route parameters to achieve this functionality, at least for test purposes. By using route parameters, we can define multiple routes with the same path but different names, and use these names to determine which component to render. We’ve also seen how to test these routes using Jest and Vue Testing Library.

While this solution might not be suitable for production use, it can be a useful tool in your testing toolbox. With Vue Router, the possibilities are endless, and with a little creativity, you can achieve even the most complex routing scenarios.

Route Path	Route Name	Component
/my-path/:type(A)	myRouteA	MyComponentA
/my-path/:type(B)	myRouteB	MyComponentB

1. Define routes with unique names and paths
2. Use route parameters to distinguish between routes
3. Test route names using Jest and Vue Testing Library

Final Thoughts

Remember, Vue Router is a powerful tool that offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to routing. By thinking outside the box and using creative workarounds, you can achieve even the most complex routing scenarios. Happy coding!

• Vue Router Documentation
• Jest Documentation
• Vue Testing Library Documentation

We hope you enjoyed this article! Do you have any questions or need further clarification on any of the topics discussed? Leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to help.