Add tip abouit detecting modern mode

close #2921

Author: LinusBorg

docs/guide/browser-compatibility.md

@@ -78,6 +78,17 @@ Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self' 'sha256-4RS22DYeB7U14dra4KcQYxmwt5HkO
 ```
 :::
 
+::: tip Detecting the  current mode in config
+Sometimes you may need to change the webpack config only for the legacy build, or only for the modern build.
+
+Vue-cli uses two environment variables to communicate this:
+
+* `VUE_CLI_MODERN_MODE`: The build was started with the `--modern` flag
+* `VUE_CLI_MODERN_BUILD`: when true, the current config is for the modern build. Otherwise it's for the legacy build.
+
+**Important:** These variables are only accessible in `chainWebpack()` and `configureWebpack()` functions, not in the `vue.config.js` file's root scope.
+:::
+
 [autoprefixer]: https://github.com/postcss/autoprefixer
 [babel-preset-env]: https://new.babeljs.io/docs/en/next/babel-preset-env.html
 [babel-preset-app]: https://github.com/vuejs/vue-cli/tree/dev/packages/%40vue/babel-preset-app