diff --git a/hyperglass/configuration/main.py b/hyperglass/configuration/main.py
index 8efaf1b..5710462 100644
--- a/hyperglass/configuration/main.py
+++ b/hyperglass/configuration/main.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import os
 import copy
 import json
-from typing import Dict
+from typing import Dict, List
 from pathlib import Path
 
 # Third Party
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ def _build_frontend_devices():
                         {
                             "id": vrf.name,
                             "display_name": vrf.display_name,
+                            "default": vrf.default,
                             "ipv4": True if vrf.ipv4 else False,  # noqa: IF100
                             "ipv6": True if vrf.ipv6 else False,  # noqa: IF100
                         }
@@ -235,6 +236,7 @@ def _build_frontend_devices():
                     {
                         "id": vrf.name,
                         "display_name": vrf.display_name,
+                        "default": vrf.default,
                         "ipv4": True if vrf.ipv4 else False,  # noqa: IF100
                         "ipv6": True if vrf.ipv6 else False,  # noqa: IF100
                     }
@@ -246,15 +248,8 @@ def _build_frontend_devices():
     return frontend_dict
 
 
-def _build_networks():
-    """Build filtered JSON Structure of networks & devices for Jinja templates.
-
-    Raises:
-        ConfigError: Raised if parsing/building error occurs.
-
-    Returns:
-        {dict} -- Networks & devices
-    """
+def _build_networks() -> List[Dict]:
+    """Build filtered JSON Structure of networks & devices for Jinja templates."""
     networks = []
     _networks = list(set({device.network.display_name for device in devices.objects}))
 
@@ -269,8 +264,9 @@ def _build_networks():
                         "network": device.network.display_name,
                         "vrfs": [
                             {
-                                "id": vrf.name,
+                                "_id": vrf._id,
                                 "display_name": vrf.display_name,
+                                "default": vrf.default,
                                 "ipv4": True if vrf.ipv4 else False,  # noqa: IF100
                                 "ipv6": True if vrf.ipv6 else False,  # noqa: IF100
                             }
@@ -285,33 +281,13 @@ def _build_networks():
     return networks
 
 
-def _build_vrfs():
-    vrfs = []
-    for device in devices.objects:
-        for vrf in device.vrfs:
-
-            vrf_dict = {
-                "id": vrf.name,
-                "display_name": vrf.display_name,
-            }
-
-            if vrf_dict not in vrfs:
-                vrfs.append(vrf_dict)
-
-    return vrfs
-
-
 content_params = json.loads(
     params.json(include={"primary_asn", "org_name", "site_title", "site_description"})
 )
 
 
-def _build_vrf_help():
-    """Build a dict of vrfs as keys, help content as values.
-
-    Returns:
-        {dict} -- Formatted VRF help
-    """
+def _build_vrf_help() -> Dict:
+    """Build a dict of vrfs as keys, help content as values."""
     all_help = {}
     for vrf in devices.vrf_objects:
 
@@ -343,7 +319,7 @@ def _build_vrf_help():
                     }
                 )
 
-        all_help.update({vrf.name: vrf_help})
+        all_help.update({vrf._id: vrf_help})
 
     return all_help
 
@@ -369,7 +345,6 @@ content_terms = get_markdown(
 )
 content_credit = CREDIT.format(version=__version__)
 
-vrfs = _build_vrfs()
 networks = _build_networks()
 frontend_devices = _build_frontend_devices()
 _include_fields = {
@@ -397,7 +372,6 @@ _frontend_params.update(
         "hyperglass_version": __version__,
         "queries": {**params.queries.map, "list": params.queries.list},
         "networks": networks,
-        "vrfs": vrfs,
         "parsed_data_fields": PARSED_RESPONSE_FIELDS,
         "content": {
             "help_menu": content_help,
diff --git a/hyperglass/models/api/query.py b/hyperglass/models/api/query.py
index bacf848..6fc130b 100644
--- a/hyperglass/models/api/query.py
+++ b/hyperglass/models/api/query.py
@@ -21,33 +21,24 @@ from .validators import (
     validate_community_input,
     validate_community_select,
 )
+from ..config.vrf import Vrf
 
 
-def get_vrf_object(vrf_name):
-    """Match VRF object from VRF name.
+def get_vrf_object(vrf_name: str) -> Vrf:
+    """Match VRF object from VRF name."""
 
-    Arguments:
-        vrf_name {str} -- VRF name
-
-    Raises:
-        InputInvalid: Raised if no VRF is matched.
-
-    Returns:
-        {object} -- Valid VRF object
-    """
-    matched = None
     for vrf_obj in devices.vrf_objects:
         if vrf_name is not None:
-            if vrf_name == vrf_obj.name or vrf_name == vrf_obj.display_name:
-                matched = vrf_obj
-                break
+            if vrf_name == vrf_obj._id or vrf_name == vrf_obj.display_name:
+                return vrf_obj
+
+            elif vrf_name == "__hyperglass_default" and vrf_obj.default:
+                return vrf_obj
         elif vrf_name is None:
-            if vrf_obj.name == "default":
-                matched = vrf_obj
-                break
-    if matched is None:
-        raise InputInvalid(params.messages.vrf_not_found, vrf_name=vrf_name)
-    return matched
+            if vrf_obj.default:
+                return vrf_obj
+
+    raise InputInvalid(params.messages.vrf_not_found, vrf_name=vrf_name)
 
 
 class Query(BaseModel):
@@ -145,7 +136,7 @@ class Query(BaseModel):
             items = {
                 "query_location": self.query_location,
                 "query_type": self.query_type,
-                "query_vrf": self.query_vrf.name,
+                "query_vrf": self.query_vrf._id,
                 "query_target": str(self.query_target),
             }
         return items
@@ -156,17 +147,7 @@ class Query(BaseModel):
 
     @validator("query_type")
     def validate_query_type(cls, value):
-        """Ensure query_type is enabled.
-
-        Arguments:
-            value {str} -- Query Type
-
-        Raises:
-            InputInvalid: Raised if query_type is disabled.
-
-        Returns:
-            {str} -- Valid query_type
-        """
+        """Ensure query_type is enabled."""
         query = params.queries[value]
         if not query.enable:
             raise InputInvalid(
@@ -178,17 +159,7 @@ class Query(BaseModel):
 
     @validator("query_location")
     def validate_query_location(cls, value):
-        """Ensure query_location is defined.
-
-        Arguments:
-            value {str} -- Unvalidated query_location
-
-        Raises:
-            InputInvalid: Raised if query_location is not defined.
-
-        Returns:
-            {str} -- Valid query_location
-        """
+        """Ensure query_location is defined."""
         if value not in devices._ids:
             raise InputInvalid(
                 params.messages.invalid_field,
@@ -200,17 +171,7 @@ class Query(BaseModel):
 
     @validator("query_vrf")
     def validate_query_vrf(cls, value, values):
-        """Ensure query_vrf is defined.
-
-        Arguments:
-            value {str} -- Unvalidated query_vrf
-
-        Raises:
-            InputInvalid: Raised if query_vrf is not defined.
-
-        Returns:
-            {str} -- Valid query_vrf
-        """
+        """Ensure query_vrf is defined."""
         vrf_object = get_vrf_object(value)
         device = devices[values["query_location"]]
         device_vrf = None
diff --git a/hyperglass/models/config/devices.py b/hyperglass/models/config/devices.py
index de37828..e57f90e 100644
--- a/hyperglass/models/config/devices.py
+++ b/hyperglass/models/config/devices.py
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ class Device(HyperglassModel):
         """
         vrfs = []
         for vrf in value:
-            vrf_name = vrf.get("name")
+            vrf_default = vrf.get("default", False)
 
             for afi in ("ipv4", "ipv6"):
                 vrf_afi = vrf.get(afi)
@@ -259,9 +259,7 @@ class Device(HyperglassModel):
             # to make one by replacing non-alphanumeric characters
             # with whitespaces and using str.title() to make each
             # word look "pretty".
-            if vrf_name != "default" and not isinstance(
-                vrf.get("display_name"), StrictStr
-            ):
+            if not vrf_default and not isinstance(vrf.get("display_name"), str):
                 new_name = vrf["name"]
                 new_name = re.sub(r"[^a-zA-Z0-9]", " ", new_name)
                 new_name = re.split(" ", new_name)
@@ -272,7 +270,7 @@ class Device(HyperglassModel):
                     f"Generated '{vrf['display_name']}'"
                 )
 
-            elif vrf_name == "default" and vrf.get("display_name") is None:
+            elif vrf_default and vrf.get("display_name") is None:
                 vrf["display_name"] = "Global"
 
             # Validate the non-default VRF against the standard
diff --git a/hyperglass/models/config/vrf.py b/hyperglass/models/config/vrf.py
index 1e678dc..f3d7569 100644
--- a/hyperglass/models/config/vrf.py
+++ b/hyperglass/models/config/vrf.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """Validate VRF configuration variables."""
 
 # Standard Library
-from typing import List, Optional
+import re
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional
 from ipaddress import IPv4Address, IPv4Network, IPv6Address, IPv6Network
 
 # Third Party
@@ -10,18 +11,39 @@ from pydantic import (
     FilePath,
     StrictStr,
     StrictBool,
+    PrivateAttr,
     conint,
     constr,
     validator,
     root_validator,
 )
 
+# Project
+from hyperglass.log import log
+
 # Local
 from ..main import HyperglassModel, HyperglassModelExtra
 
 ACLAction = constr(regex=r"permit|deny")
 
 
+def find_vrf_id(values: Dict) -> str:
+    """Generate (private) VRF ID."""
+
+    def generate_id(name: str) -> str:
+        scrubbed = re.sub(r"[^A-Za-z0-9\_\-\s]", "", name)
+        return "_".join(scrubbed.split()).lower()
+
+    display_name = values.get("display_name")
+
+    if display_name is None:
+        raise ValueError("display_name is required.")
+
+    vrf_id = generate_id(display_name)
+
+    return vrf_id
+
+
 class AccessList4(HyperglassModel):
     """Validation model for IPv4 access-lists."""
 
@@ -195,23 +217,33 @@ class DeviceVrf6(HyperglassModelExtra):
 class Vrf(HyperglassModel):
     """Validation model for per VRF/afi config in devices.yaml."""
 
+    _id: StrictStr = PrivateAttr()
     name: StrictStr
     display_name: StrictStr
     info: Info = Info()
     ipv4: Optional[DeviceVrf4]
     ipv6: Optional[DeviceVrf6]
+    default: StrictBool = False
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs) -> None:
+        """Set the VRF ID."""
+        _id = find_vrf_id(kwargs)
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+        self._id = _id
 
     @root_validator
-    def set_dynamic(cls, values):
-        """Set dynamic attributes before VRF initialization.
+    def set_dynamic(cls, values: Dict) -> Dict:
+        """Set dynamic attributes before VRF initialization."""
 
-        Arguments:
-            values {dict} -- Post-validation VRF attributes
-
-        Returns:
-            {dict} -- VRF with new attributes set
-        """
         if values["name"] == "default":
+            log.warning(
+                """You have set the VRF name to 'default'. This is no longer the way to
+designate a VRF as the default (or global routing table) VRF. Instead,
+add 'default: true' to the VRF definition.
+"""
+            )
+
+        if values.get("default", False) is True:
             protocol4 = "ipv4_default"
             protocol6 = "ipv6_default"
 
@@ -227,7 +259,7 @@ class Vrf(HyperglassModel):
             values["ipv6"].protocol = protocol6
             values["ipv6"].version = 6
 
-        if values.get("name") == "default" and values.get("display_name") is None:
+        if values.get("default", False) and values.get("display_name") is None:
             values["display_name"] = "Global"
 
         return values
@@ -245,7 +277,7 @@ class Vrf(HyperglassModel):
             {object} -- AFI object
         """
         if i not in (4, 6):
-            raise AttributeError(f"Must be 4 or 6, got '{i}")
+            raise AttributeError(f"Must be 4 or 6, got '{i}'")
 
         return getattr(self, f"ipv{i}")
 
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/components/form/queryVrf.tsx b/hyperglass/ui/components/form/queryVrf.tsx
index 80d5ec8..4c7d2ed 100644
--- a/hyperglass/ui/components/form/queryVrf.tsx
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/components/form/queryVrf.tsx
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ import { useMemo } from 'react';
 import { Select } from '~/components';
 import { useLGMethods, useLGState } from '~/hooks';
 
-import { TDeviceVrf, TSelectOption } from '~/types';
+import type { TDeviceVrf, TSelectOption } from '~/types';
 import type { TQueryVrf } from './types';
 
 function buildOptions(queryVrfs: TDeviceVrf[]): TSelectOption[] {
-  return queryVrfs.map(q => ({ value: q.id, label: q.display_name }));
+  return queryVrfs.map(q => ({ value: q._id, label: q.display_name }));
 }
 
 export const QueryVrf: React.FC<TQueryVrf> = (props: TQueryVrf) => {
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/components/lookingGlass.tsx b/hyperglass/ui/components/lookingGlass.tsx
index 541029b..6aef729 100644
--- a/hyperglass/ui/components/lookingGlass.tsx
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/components/lookingGlass.tsx
@@ -129,17 +129,14 @@ export const LookingGlass: React.FC = () => {
     // Use _.intersectionWith to create an array of VRFs common to all selected locations.
     const intersecting = intersectionWith(
       ...allVrfs,
-      (a: TDeviceVrf, b: TDeviceVrf) => a.id === b.id,
+      (a: TDeviceVrf, b: TDeviceVrf) => a._id === b._id,
     );
 
     availVrfs.set(intersecting);
 
     // If there are no intersecting VRFs, use the default VRF.
-    if (
-      intersecting.filter(i => i.id === queryVrf.value).length === 0 &&
-      queryVrf.value !== 'default'
-    ) {
-      queryVrf.set('default');
+    if (intersecting.filter(i => i._id === queryVrf.value).length === 0) {
+      queryVrf.set('__hyperglass_default');
     }
 
     // Determine which address families are available in the intersecting VRFs.
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/components/results/tags.tsx b/hyperglass/ui/components/results/tags.tsx
index a807e5a..26de570 100644
--- a/hyperglass/ui/components/results/tags.tsx
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/components/results/tags.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { Box, Stack, useToken } from '@chakra-ui/react';
 import { motion, AnimatePresence } from 'framer-motion';
 import { Label } from '~/components';
 import { useConfig, useBreakpointValue } from '~/context';
-import { useLGState } from '~/hooks';
+import { useLGState, useVrf } from '~/hooks';
 import { isQueryType } from '~/types';
 
 import type { Transition } from 'framer-motion';
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import type { Transition } from 'framer-motion';
 const transition = { duration: 0.3, delay: 0.5 } as Transition;
 
 export const Tags: React.FC = () => {
-  const { queries, vrfs, web } = useConfig();
+  const { queries, web } = useConfig();
   const { queryLocation, queryTarget, queryType, queryVrf } = useLGState();
 
   const targetBg = useToken('colors', 'teal.600');
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ export const Tags: React.FC = () => {
     queryTypeLabel = queries[queryType.value].display_name;
   }
 
-  const matchedVrf =
-    vrfs.filter(v => v.id === queryVrf.value)[0] ?? vrfs.filter(v => v.id === 'default')[0];
+  const getVrf = useVrf();
+  const vrf = getVrf(queryVrf.value);
 
   return (
     <Box
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export const Tags: React.FC = () => {
                 <Label
                   bg={vrfBg}
                   label={web.text.query_vrf}
-                  value={matchedVrf.display_name}
+                  value={vrf.display_name}
                   fontSize={{ base: 'xs', md: 'sm' }}
                 />
               </motion.div>
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/hooks/index.ts b/hyperglass/ui/hooks/index.ts
index f5e3bc6..882d53c 100644
--- a/hyperglass/ui/hooks/index.ts
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/hooks/index.ts
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ export * from './useLGState';
 export * from './useOpposingColor';
 export * from './useStrf';
 export * from './useTableToString';
+export * from './useVrf';
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/hooks/types.ts b/hyperglass/ui/hooks/types.ts
index 39d6934..41cf5d5 100644
--- a/hyperglass/ui/hooks/types.ts
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/hooks/types.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ export type TUseDevice = (
   deviceId: string,
 ) => TDevice;
 
+export type TUseVrf = (vrfId: string) => TDeviceVrf;
+
 export interface TSelections {
   queryLocation: TSelectOption[] | [];
   queryType: TSelectOption | null;
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/hooks/useVrf.ts b/hyperglass/ui/hooks/useVrf.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..662ecf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/hooks/useVrf.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
+import { useConfig } from '~/context';
+
+import type { TDeviceVrf } from '~/types';
+import type { TUseVrf } from './types';
+
+/**
+ * Get a VRF configuration from the global configuration context based on its name.
+ */
+export function useVrf(): TUseVrf {
+  const { networks } = useConfig();
+
+  const vrfs = useMemo(() => networks.map(n => n.locations.map(l => l.vrfs).flat()).flat(), []);
+
+  function getVrf(id: string): TDeviceVrf {
+    const matching = vrfs.find(vrf => vrf._id === id);
+    if (typeof matching === 'undefined') {
+      if (id === '__hyperglass_default') {
+        const anyDefault = vrfs.find(vrf => vrf.default === true);
+        if (typeof anyDefault !== 'undefined') {
+          return anyDefault;
+        } else {
+          throw new Error(`No matching VRF found for '${id}'`);
+        }
+      } else {
+        throw new Error(`No matching VRF found for '${id}'`);
+      }
+    }
+    return matching;
+  }
+
+  return useCallback(getVrf, []);
+}
diff --git a/hyperglass/ui/types/config.ts b/hyperglass/ui/types/config.ts
index b7695d9..f7a36c2 100644
--- a/hyperglass/ui/types/config.ts
+++ b/hyperglass/ui/types/config.ts
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ export interface TConfigQueries {
 }
 
 interface TDeviceVrfBase {
-  id: string;
+  _id: string;
   display_name: string;
+  default: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface TDeviceVrf extends TDeviceVrfBase {