Vue js error: Component template should contain exactly one root element

I don't know what the error is, so far I am testing through console log to check for changes after selecting a file (for uploading).

When I run $ npm run watch, i get the following error:

"Webpack is watching the files…

95% emitting

ERROR Failed to compile with 1 errors
19:42:29

error in ./resources/assets/js/components/File.vue

(Emitted value instead of an instance of Error) Vue template syntax error:

Component template should contain exactly one root element. If you are using v-if on multiple elements, use v-else-if to chain them instead.

@ ./resources/assets/js/components/AvatarUpload.vue 5:2-181 @ ./resources/assets/js/app.js @ multi ./resources/assets/js/app.js ./resources/assets/sass/app.scss"

My File.vue is

<template>
        <div class="form-group">
            <label for="avatar" class="control-label">Avatar</label>
            <input type="file" v-on:change="fileChange" id="avatar">
            <div class="help-block">
                Help block here updated 4 🍸 ...
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class="col-md-6">
            <input type="hidden" name="avatar_id">
            <img class="avatar" title="Current avatar">
        </div>
</template>

<script>
    export default{
        methods: {
            fileChange(){
                console.log('Test of file input change')
            }
        }
    }
</script>

Any ideas on how to solve this? What is actually the error?

Note This answer only applies to version 2.x of Vue. Version 3 has lifted this restriction.

You have two root elements in your template.

<div class="form-group">
  ...
</div>
<div class="col-md-6">
  ...
</div>

And you need one.

<div>
    <div class="form-group">
      ...
    </div>

    <div class="col-md-6">
      ...
    </div>
</div>

Essentially in Vue you must have only one root element in your templates.

For a more complete answer: http://www.compulsivecoders.com/tech/vuejs-component-template-should-contain-exactly-one-root-element/

But basically:

• Currently, a VueJS template can contain only one root element (because of rendering issue)
• In cases you really need to have two root elements because HTML structure does not allow you to create a wrapping parent element, you can use vue-fragment.

To install it:

npm install vue-fragment

To use it:

import Fragment from 'vue-fragment';
Vue.use(Fragment.Plugin);

// or

import { Plugin } from 'vue-fragment';
Vue.use(Plugin);

Then, in your component:

<template>
  <fragment>
    <tr class="hola">
      ...
    </tr>
    <tr class="hello">
      ...
    </tr>
  </fragment>
</template>

You need to wrap all the html into one single element.

<template>
   <div>
        <div class="form-group">
            <label for="avatar" class="control-label">Avatar</label>
            <input type="file" v-on:change="fileChange" id="avatar">
            <div class="help-block">
                Help block here updated 4 🍸 ...
            </div>
        </div>

        <div class="col-md-6">
            <input type="hidden" name="avatar_id">
            <img class="avatar" title="Current avatar">
        </div>
   </div>

</template>

<script>
    export default{
        methods: {
            fileChange(){
                console.log('Test of file input change')
            }
        }
    }
</script>