---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/vue-list-rendering.md
title: "Vue v-for renders a list from an array"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC BY 4.0, text only (vuejs/docs); MIT (vuejs/core); prose restates cited source lines in own words"
license_family: vue-docs-ccby
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Vue.js docs, List Rendering, CC BY 4.0, text only (vuejs/docs); Vue.js core, compiler-core vFor transform, MIT (vuejs/core). Notices: Vue.js documentation (vuejs/docs): Copyright (c) 2019-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue documentation contributors; CC BY 4.0, text only (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/docs/main/LICENSE). Vue.js core (vuejs/core): Copyright (c) 2018-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue contributors; MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/core/main/LICENSE)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-10
status: published
approved_by: "Cole Withington, 2026-11-10 10:08 PT, Librarian chat widget t33s2: \"Yes, publish all 25 Django and Vue drafts\""
checked_on: 2026-11-10
as_of: 2026-11-10
confidence: medium
untested: "No Vue app was run for this note; only the fetched documentation and source files were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-web: Vue list rendering"
tags: [vue, v-for, lists, compiler]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "List Rendering"
    publisher: Vue.js docs
    url: https://vuejs.org/guide/essentials/list.html
    accessed: 2026-11-10
    license: "CC BY 4.0"
  - id: S2
    title: "compiler-core vFor transform"
    publisher: Vue.js core source
    url: https://github.com/vuejs/core/blob/main/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/vFor.ts
    accessed: 2026-11-10
    license: "MIT"
---
# Vue v-for renders a list from an array

**Answer:** `v-for` renders a list of items from an array. The required syntax is `item in items`, where `items` is the source array and `item` is an alias for the current element.

## Scope

Inside the `v-for` scope, template expressions can also use parent scope properties. An optional second alias is the index of the current item.

## Compiler

`transformFor` uses `createStructuralDirectiveTransform` for `for`. It creates the loop render function expression now and later adds the iterator, using `RENDER_LIST`.

## See also

- [vue-conditional-rendering](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/vue-conditional-rendering/)
- [vue-template-syntax](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/vue-template-syntax/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: v-for renders a list of items from an array.
  source: S1
  evidence: "We can use the `v-for` directive to render a list of items"

- id: C2
  claim: The v-for syntax is item in items.
  source: S1
  evidence: "The `v-for` directive requires a special syntax in the form of `item in items`,"

- id: C3
  claim: Expressions inside v-for can also see parent scope properties.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Inside the `v-for` scope, template expressions have access to all parent scope properties."

- id: C4
  claim: transformFor is the compiler's structural directive transform for v-for.
  source: S2
  evidence: "export const transformFor: NodeTransform = createStructuralDirectiveTransform("

## Sources

- [S1] List Rendering. Vue.js docs. https://vuejs.org/guide/essentials/list.html . License: CC BY 4.0. Accessed 2026-11-10.

- [S2] compiler-core vFor transform. Vue.js core source. https://github.com/vuejs/core/blob/main/packages/compiler-core/src/transforms/vFor.ts . License: MIT. Accessed 2026-11-10.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources and notices: Vue.js documentation (vuejs/docs): Copyright (c) 2019-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue documentation contributors; CC BY 4.0, text only (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/docs/main/LICENSE). Vue.js core (vuejs/core): Copyright (c) 2018-present, Yuxi (Evan) You and Vue contributors; MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vuejs/core/main/LICENSE). Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

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