v-slot Can Only Be Used on Components or Template Tags

Impact: HIGH - The v-slot directive (and its shorthand #) can only be used on Vue components or <template> tags. Using it on native HTML elements like <div> or <span> causes a Vue compilation error.

Task Checklist

• [ ] Only use v-slot on component elements or <template> tags
• [ ] When using default scoped slot shorthand, apply to the component itself
• [ ] For named slots, always use <template #name> syntax

Incorrect:

<template>
  <!-- BAD: v-slot on a native HTML element -->
  <div v-slot:header>
    <h1>Title</h1>
  </div>

  <!-- BAD: Shorthand on HTML element -->
  <span #default="{ item }">
    {{ item.name }}
  </span>

  <!-- BAD: v-slot inside a plain HTML element -->
  <div>
    <p v-slot:content>Some text</p>
  </div>
</template>

These cause the error: v-slot can only be used on components or <template> tags

Correct:

<template>
  <!-- GOOD: v-slot on component element (default scoped slot) -->
  <MyComponent v-slot="{ item }">
    {{ item.name }}
  </MyComponent>

  <!-- GOOD: Named slots use template tags -->
  <BaseLayout>
    <template #header>
      <h1>Title</h1>
    </template>

    <template #default>
      <p>Main content</p>
    </template>

    <template #footer>
      <p>Footer content</p>
    </template>
  </BaseLayout>

  <!-- GOOD: Shorthand on component for default slot -->
  <FancyList #default="{ item }">
    <div>{{ item.name }}</div>
  </FancyList>
</template>

Common Scenarios

Wrapping Slot Content in HTML

If you need HTML wrappers around slot content, put them inside the template:

<!-- WRONG -->
<MyComponent>
  <div v-slot:header class="header-wrapper">
    <h1>Title</h1>
  </div>
</MyComponent>

<!-- CORRECT -->
<MyComponent>
  <template #header>
    <div class="header-wrapper">
      <h1>Title</h1>
    </div>
  </template>
</MyComponent>

Multiple v-slot on Same Element

Another error occurs when you have multiple v-slot directives - only the first is recognized:

<!-- BAD: Multiple v-slot directives -->
<MyComponent v-slot:header v-slot:footer>
  Content
</MyComponent>

<!-- GOOD: Separate template for each slot -->
<MyComponent>
  <template #header>Header</template>
  <template #footer>Footer</template>
</MyComponent>

Valid v-slot Locations

Reference

• Vue.js Slots
• DeepScan - vue-misused-v-slot