el-container

Element Plus Container Components

Container components for scaffolding basic structure of the page.

When to Invoke

Invoke this skill when:

User needs to create a page layout
User wants to implement header/footer/aside/main sections
User needs to create admin dashboard layouts
User asks about responsive layouts
User needs nested container layouts

Features

Flex-based Layout: Uses CSS Flexbox for layout
Automatic Direction: Direction based on child elements
Nested Support: Multiple levels of nesting
Customizable Sizes: Configurable header height, aside width
Responsive: Works with responsive design

Components

Container (`el-container`)

Wrapper container. When nested with a <el-header> or <el-footer>, all its child elements will be vertically arranged. Otherwise horizontally.

Header (`el-header`)

Container for headers.

Aside (`el-aside`)

Container for side sections (usually a side nav).

Main (`el-main`)

Container for main sections.

Footer (`el-footer`)

Container for footers.

API Reference

Container Attributes

Name	Description	Type	Default
direction	layout direction for child elements	`'horizontal' \| 'vertical'`	vertical when nested with `el-header` or `el-footer`; horizontal otherwise

Container Slots

Name	Description	Subtags
default	customize default content	Container / Header / Aside / Main / Footer

Header Attributes

Name	Description	Type	Default
height	height of the header	`string`	60px

Header Slots

Name	Description
default	customize default content

Aside Attributes

Name	Description	Type	Default
width	width of the side section	`string`	300px

Aside Slots

Name	Description
default	customize default content

Main Slots

Name	Description
default	customize default content

Footer Attributes

Name	Description	Type	Default
height	height of the footer	`string`	60px

Footer Slots

Name	Description
default	customize default content

Usage Examples

Basic Layout (Header + Main)

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-header>Header</el-header>
    <el-main>Main</el-main>
  </el-container>
</template>

<style scoped>
.el-header,
.el-main {
  background-color: #b3c0d1;
  color: #333;
  text-align: center;
  line-height: 60px;
}

.el-main {
  background-color: #e9eef3;
  line-height: 160px;
}
</style>

Header + Main + Footer

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-header>Header</el-header>
    <el-main>Main</el-main>
    <el-footer>Footer</el-footer>
  </el-container>
</template>

Aside + Main

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-aside width="200px">Aside</el-aside>
    <el-main>Main</el-main>
  </el-container>
</template>

<style scoped>
.el-aside {
  background-color: #d3dce6;
  color: #333;
  text-align: center;
  line-height: 200px;
}

.el-main {
  background-color: #e9eef3;
  color: #333;
  text-align: center;
  line-height: 160px;
}
</style>

Header + Aside + Main

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-header>Header</el-header>
    <el-container>
      <el-aside width="200px">Aside</el-aside>
      <el-main>Main</el-main>
    </el-container>
  </el-container>
</template>

Header + Aside + Main + Footer

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-header>Header</el-header>
    <el-container>
      <el-aside width="200px">Aside</el-aside>
      <el-container>
        <el-main>Main</el-main>
        <el-footer>Footer</el-footer>
      </el-container>
    </el-container>
  </el-container>
</template>

Aside + Header + Main

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-aside width="200px">Aside</el-aside>
    <el-container>
      <el-header>Header</el-header>
      <el-main>Main</el-main>
    </el-container>
  </el-container>
</template>

Aside + Header + Main + Footer

<template>
  <el-container>
    <el-aside width="200px">Aside</el-aside>
    <el-container>
      <el-header>Header</el-header>
      <el-main>Main</el-main>
      <el-footer>Footer</el-footer>
    </el-container>
  </el-container>
</template>

Full Dashboard Layout

<template>
  <el-container style="height: 100vh">
    <el-aside width="200px">
      <el-menu
        :default-active="activeIndex"
        router
      >
        <el-menu-item index="/dashboard">
          <el-icon><HomeFilled /></el-icon>
          <span>Dashboard</span>
        </el-menu-item>
        <el-menu-item index="/users">
          <el-icon><User /></el-icon>
          <span>Users</span>
        </el-menu-item>
        <el-menu-item index="/settings">
          <el-icon><Setting /></el-icon>
          <span>Settings</span>
        </el-menu-item>
      </el-menu>
    </el-aside>
    
    <el-container>
      <el-header>
        <div class="header-content">
          <span>Admin Dashboard</span>
          <el-dropdown>
            <span class="user-info">
              <el-avatar :size="32" />
              <span>Admin</span>
            </span>
            <template #dropdown>
              <el-dropdown-menu>
                <el-dropdown-item>Profile</el-dropdown-item>
                <el-dropdown-item divided>Logout</el-dropdown-item>
              </el-dropdown-menu>
            </template>
          </el-dropdown>
        </div>
      </el-header>
      
      <el-main>
        <router-view />
      </el-main>
      
      <el-footer>
        © 2024 Your Company
      </el-footer>
    </el-container>
  </el-container>
</template>

<script setup>
import { ref } from 'vue'
import { HomeFilled, User, Setting } from '@element-plus/icons-vue'

const activeIndex = ref('/dashboard')
</script>

<style scoped>
.el-header {
  background-color: #fff;
  border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
}

.header-content {
  width: 100%;
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
}

.el-aside {
  background-color: #304156;
}

.el-menu {
  border-right: none;
}

.el-footer {
  background-color: #f5f5f5;
  text-align: center;
}
</style>

Common Issues

1. Container Not Filling Screen

Set height on the container:

<el-container style="height: 100vh">
  <!-- content -->
</el-container>

2. Aside Width Not Changing

Use the width attribute:

<el-aside width="250px">Aside</el-aside>

3. Content Overflow

Add overflow styles:

<el-main style="overflow: auto">
  <!-- content -->
</el-main>

Best Practices

Use semantic structure: Follow header-main-footer pattern
Set container height: Always set height for full-page layouts
Responsive design: Use CSS media queries for responsive layouts
Nested containers: Use nested containers for complex layouts
Combine with Menu: Use Aside with Menu for navigation