What it is
Element UI is a Vue 2 component library created by ElemeFE. It became popular because it covered common product interface needs: forms, tables, filters, navigation, dialogs, and notifications.
The project belongs to the Vue 2 era. New Vue 3 projects usually look at Element Plus, but Element UI remains important for maintaining older systems.
What is inside
The repository contains component sources, styles, documentation, tests, and build files. It covers buttons and inputs as well as tables, trees, upload controls, date pickers, and pagination.
The library defines both visual language and behavior. That speeds development but also ties a product to the chosen component system.
How it is used
Element UI is common in internal admin panels where speed and predictability matter more than a unique visual identity.
For public products with highly custom design, teams may need many style overrides and should check how flexible the components are.
Strengths and limits
Its strength is breadth and maturity for Vue 2. It lets teams assemble complex work screens without writing every detail from scratch.
The main limit is its Vue 2 base. For new systems, that can mean long-term support of an older technology branch.
In long-lived products, Element UI often sits behind local wrappers. Teams take a base component and add validation rules, local conventions, and consistent error styling. The library becomes part of an internal interface system.
Migration from Vue 2 is not only a package replacement. Forms, tables, overlays, localization, and accessibility need checking. In large admin panels, these small behavior differences take more time than installing a new library.
That context matters because many Vue 2 products are still maintained. A component library can remain valuable long after it stops being the default choice for new applications.
Example
Element UI form
This snippet shows the common style: a Vue template assembled from ready-made form and button components.
<template>
<el-form :model="form" label-width="120px">
<el-form-item label="Title">
<el-input v-model="form.title" />
</el-form-item>
<el-button type="primary">Save</el-button>
</el-form>
</template>