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---
title: KeepAlive Component Best Practices
impact: HIGH
impactDescription: KeepAlive caches component instances; misuse causes stale data, memory growth, or unexpected lifecycle behavior
type: best-practice
tags: [vue3, keepalive, cache, performance, router, dynamic-components]
---
# KeepAlive Component Best Practices
**Impact: HIGH** - `<KeepAlive>` caches component instances instead of destroying them. Use it to preserve state across switches, but manage cache size and freshness explicitly to avoid memory growth or stale UI.
## Task List
- Use KeepAlive only where state preservation improves UX
- Set a reasonable `max` to cap cache size
- Declare component names for include/exclude matching
- Use `onActivated`/`onDeactivated` for cache-aware logic
- Decide how and when cached views refresh their data
- Avoid caching memory-heavy or security-sensitive views
## When to Use KeepAlive
Use KeepAlive when switching between views where state should persist (tabs, multi-step forms, dashboards). Avoid it when each visit should start fresh.
**BAD:**
```vue
<template>
<!-- State resets on every switch -->
<component :is="currentTab" />
</template>
```
**GOOD:**
```vue
<template>
<!-- State preserved between switches -->
<KeepAlive>
<component :is="currentTab" />
</KeepAlive>
</template>
```
## When NOT to Use KeepAlive
- Search or filter pages where users expect fresh results
- Memory-heavy components (maps, large tables, media players)
- Sensitive flows where data must be cleared on exit
- Components with heavy background activity you cannot pause
## Limit and Control the Cache
Always cap cache size with `max` and restrict caching to specific components when possible.
```vue
<template>
<KeepAlive :max="5" include="Dashboard,Settings">
<component :is="currentView" />
</KeepAlive>
</template>
```
## Ensure Component Names Match include/exclude
`include` and `exclude` match the component `name` option. Explicitly set names for reliable caching.
```vue
<!-- TabA.vue -->
<script setup>
defineOptions({ name: 'TabA' })
</script>
```
```vue
<template>
<KeepAlive include="TabA,TabB">
<component :is="currentTab" />
</KeepAlive>
</template>
```
## Cache Invalidation Strategies
Vue 3 has no direct API to remove a specific cached instance. Use keys or dynamic include/exclude to force refreshes.
```vue
<script setup>
import { ref, reactive } from 'vue'
const currentView = ref('Dashboard')
const viewKeys = reactive({ Dashboard: 0, Settings: 0 })
function invalidateCache(view) {
viewKeys[view]++
}
</script>
<template>
<KeepAlive>
<component :is="currentView" :key="`${currentView}-${viewKeys[currentView]}`" />
</KeepAlive>
</template>
```
## Lifecycle Hooks for Cached Components
Cached components are not destroyed on switch. Use activation hooks for refresh and cleanup.
```vue
<script setup>
import { onActivated, onDeactivated } from 'vue'
onActivated(() => {
refreshData()
})
onDeactivated(() => {
pauseTimers()
})
</script>
```
## Router Caching and Freshness
Decide whether navigation should show cached state or a fresh view. A common pattern is to key by route when params change.
```vue
<template>
<router-view v-slot="{ Component, route }">
<KeepAlive>
<component :is="Component" :key="route.fullPath" />
</KeepAlive>
</router-view>
</template>
```
If you want cache reuse but fresh data, refresh in `onActivated` and compare query/params before fetching.