Installation

Compatibility Note

Vue.js 3.0.0+

Direct Download

unpkg.com provides a npm-based CDN links. The above link will always point to the latest release on npm.

Global import

<script src="https://unpkg.com/vue@next"></script>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/vue-i18n@next"></script>

You can also use a specific version/tag via URLs like https://unpkg.com/vue-i18n@9.0.0-rc.1/dist/vue-i18n.global.js

ES Modules import

<script type="module" src="https://unpkg.com/vue@next/dist/vue.esm-browser.js">
<script type="module" src="https://unpkg.com/vue-i18n@next/dist/vue-i18n.esm-browser.js">

You can also use a specific version/tag via URLs like https://unpkg.com/vue-i18n@9.0.0-rc.1/dist/vue-i18n.esm-browser.js

Package managers

NPM

npm install vue-i18n@next

Yarn

yarn add vue-i18n@next

When using with a module system, you must explicitly install the vue-i18n via app.use():

import { createApp } from 'vue'
import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'

const i18n = createI18n({
  // something vue-i18n options here ...
})

const app = createApp({
  // something vue options here ...
})

app.use(i18n)
app.mount('#app')

Dev Build

You will have to clone directly from GitHub and build vue-i18n yourself if you want to use the latest dev build.

git clone git@github.com:intlify/vue-i18n-next.git node_modules/vue-i18n
cd node_modules/vue-i18n
npm install # or `yarn`
npm run build  # or `yarn run build`

Explanation of Different Builds

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

:::tip 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";

:::tip 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.

For Node.js (Server-Side)

vue-i18n.cjs(.prod).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