Different Distribution files

In the dist/ directory of the npm package you will find many different builds of Vue I18n. Here is an overview of which dist file should be used depending on the use-case.

From CDN or without a Bundler

• vue-i18n(.runtime).global(.prod).js:
  • For direct use via <script src="..."> in the browser. Exposes the VueI18n global
  • In-browser message format compilation:
    • vue-i18n.global.js is the "full" build that includes both the compiler and the runtime so it supports compiling message formats on the fly
    • vue-i18n.runtime.global.js contains only the runtime and requires message formats to be pre-compiled during a build step
  • Inlines all Vue I18n core internal packages - i.e. it’s a single file with no dependencies on other files. This means you must import everything from this file and this file only to ensure you are getting the same instance of code
  • Contains hard-coded prod/dev branches, and the prod build is pre-minified. Use the *.prod.js files for production

NOTE

Global builds are not UMD builds. They are built as IIFEs and are only meant for direct use via <script src="...">.

• vue-i18n(.runtime).esm-browser(.prod).js:
  • For usage via native ES modules imports (in browser via <script type="module">)
  • Shares the same runtime compilation, dependency inlining and hard-coded prod/dev behavior with the global build

With a Bundler

• vue-i18n(.runtime).esm-bundler.js:
  • For use with bundlers like webpack, rollup and parcel
  • Leaves prod/dev branches with process.env.NODE_ENV guards (must be replaced by bundler)
  • Does not ship minified builds (to be done together with the rest of the code after bundling)
  • Imports dependencies (e.g. @intlify/core-base, @intlify/message-compiler)
    • Imported dependencies are also esm-bundler builds and will in turn import their dependencies (e.g. @intlify/message-compiler imports @intlify/shared)
    • This means you can install/import these deps individually without ending up with different instances of these dependencies, but you must make sure they all resolve to the same version
  • In-browser locale messages compilation:
    • vue-i18n.runtime.esm-bundler.js is runtime only, and requires all locale messages to be pre-compiled. This is the default entry for bundlers (via module field in package.json) because when using a bundler templates are typically pre-compiled (e.g. in *.json files)
    • vue-i18n.esm-bundler.js (default): includes the runtime compiler. Use this if you are using a bundler but still want locale messages compilation (e.g. templates via inline JavaScript strings). To use this build, change your import statement to: import { createI18n } from "vue-i18n/dist/vue-i18n.esm-bundler.js";

NOTE

If you use vue-i18n.runtime.esm-bundler.js, you will need to precompile all locale messages, and you can do that with .json (.json5) or .yaml, i18n custom blocks to manage i18n resources. Therefore, you can be going to pre-compile all locale messages with bundler and the following loader / plugin.

• @intlify/unplugin-vue-i18n

For Node.js (Server-Side)

• vue-i18n.cjs(.prod).js:
  • For CommonJS usage in Node.js
  • For use in Node.js via require()
  • If you bundle your app with webpack with target: 'node' and properly externalize vue-i18n, this is the build that will be loaded
  • The dev/prod files are pre-built, but the appropriate file is automatically required based on process.env.NODE_ENV

Support Version

🆕 9.3+

• vue-i18n(.runtime).node.mjs:
  • For ES Modules usage in Node.js
  • For use in Node.js via import
  • The dev/prod files are pre-built, but the appropriate file is automatically required based on process.env.NODE_ENV
  • This module is proxy module of vue-i18n(.runtime).mjs
    • vue-i18n.runtime.node.mjs: is runtime only.
    • vue-i18n.node.mjs: includes the runtime compiler.

NOTE

ES Modules will be the future of the Node.js module system. The vue-i18n.cjs(.prod).js will be deprecated in the future. We recommend you would use vue-i18n(.runtime).node.mjs.