vue

Which dist file to use?

vue(.runtime).global(.prod).js:
- For direct use via <script src="..."> in the browser. Exposes the Vue global.
- Note: global builds are not UMD builds. They are built as IIFEs and is only meant for direct use via <script src>.
- vue.global.js: the "full" build that supports compiling templates on the fly.
- vue.runtime.global.js: runtime only, does not include runtime template compilation support. Use this if you are not using a bundler, but somehow pre-compiling your template.
vue.esm(.prod).js:
- For usage via native ES modules imports (in browser via <script type="module">, or via Node.js native ES modules support in the future)
- Inlines all dependencies - i.e. it's a single ES module with no imports from other files
  - this means you must import everything from this file nad this file only to ensure you are getting the same instance of code.
- Hard-coded prod/dev branches, and the prod build is pre-minified (you will need to use different files for dev/prod)

vue(.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. @vue/runtime-core, @vue/runtime-compiler)
  - imported depdencies are also esm-bundler builds and will in turn import their dependencies (e.g. @vue/runtime-core imports @vue/reactivity)
  - this means you can install/import these deps individually without ending up with different instances of these dependencies.
- vue.runtime.esm-bundler.js: runtime only, does not include runtime template compilation support. 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 *.vue files).
- vue.esm-bundler.js: includes the runtime compiler. Use this if you are using a bundler but still want runtime template compilation (e.g. in-DOM templates or templates via inline JavaScript strings).

vue.cjs(.prod).js:
- For use in Node.js server-side rendering via require().
- If you bundle your app with webpack with target: 'node' and properly externalize vue, 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.