ref vs reactive in Vue 3?

🔑 Key Points

• reactive() only takes objects, NOT JS primitives (String, Boolean, Number, BigInt, Symbol, null, undefined)
• ref() is calling reactive() behind the scenes
• Since reactive() works for objects and ref() calls reactive(), objects work for both
• BUT, ref() has a .value property for reassigning, reactive() does not have this and therefore CANNOT be reassigned

Use

ref() when..

• it's a primitive (for example 'string', true, 23, etc)
• it's an object you need to later reassign (like an array - more info here)

reactive() when..

• it's an object you don't need to reassign, and you want to avoid the overhead of ref()