title: defineModel Fires Update Event with Undefined
impact: MEDIUM
impactDescription: fixes runtime errors from unexpected undefined in model updates
type: capability
tags: defineModel, v-model, update-event, undefined, vue-3.5

defineModel Fires Update Event with Undefined

Impact: MEDIUM - fixes runtime errors from unexpected undefined in model updates

Version Note (2025): This issue may be resolved in Vue 3.5+. Testing with Vue 3.5.26 could not reproduce the double emission with undefined. If you're on Vue 3.5+, verify the issue exists in your specific scenario before applying workarounds.

Components using defineModel may fire the @update:model-value event with undefined in certain edge cases. TypeScript types don't always reflect this behavior, potentially causing runtime errors when the parent expects a non-nullable value.

Symptoms

• Parent component receives undefined unexpectedly
• Runtime error: "Cannot read property of undefined"
• Type mismatch between expected T and received T | undefined
• Issue appears when clearing/resetting the model value

Root Cause

defineModel returns Ref<T | undefined> by default, even when T is non-nullable. The update event can fire with undefined when:

• Component unmounts
• Model is explicitly cleared
• Internal state resets

Fix

Option 1: Use required option (Vue 3.5+)

// Returns Ref<Item> instead of Ref<Item | undefined>
const model = defineModel<Item>({ required: true })

Option 2: Type parent handler to accept undefined

<template>
  <MyComponent
    v-model="item"
    @update:model-value="handleUpdate"
  />
</template>

<script setup lang="ts">
// Handle both value and undefined
const handleUpdate = (value: Item | undefined) => {
  if (value !== undefined) {
    item.value = value
  }
}
</script>

Option 3: Use default value in defineModel

const model = defineModel<string>({ default: '' })

Type Declaration Pattern

// In child component
interface Props {
  modelValue: Item
}
const model = defineModel<Item>({ required: true })

// Emits will be typed as (value: Item) not (value: Item | undefined)

Reference

• vuejs/core#12817
• vuejs/core#10103
• defineModel docs