Routing in Frontend Applications

Last updated by Noel Varanda, Fri Jul 21 2023

React

Routing

React-router

Next.js

Routing is a fundamental aspect of web development that allows users to navigate through different pages or views within an application. In this article, we will explore the routing capabilities of Next.js and React.

If you want a minimal react app setup with all routing examples then have a look at all the code here (opens in a new tab).

Requirements

To effectively handle advanced routing in React applications, the following requirements are essential:

Support for nested routes and dynamic route parameters.
Ability to handle protected routes with authentication and authorization.
Integration with state management libraries like Redux for efficient data flow.
Fine-grained control over route transitions and animations.

Routing in Next.js

Next.js, a powerful framework built on top of React, provides a seamless and efficient routing system that simplifies page navigation and supports server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG).

To understand more on routing in Next.js read their docs on routing (opens in a new tab).

Routing in React

While React itself does not provide built-in routing capabilities, there are popular routing libraries available that seamlessly integrate with React and offer robust routing solutions.

React Router

React Router is one of the most widely used routing libraries for React applications. It provides a flexible and declarative approach to handling routing in React, allowing you to define routes, navigate between pages, and handle URL parameters with ease.

Read the React Router docs (opens in a new tab) for full understanding.

pnpm add react-router-dom

React Router provides a powerful and flexible routing solution for React applications, allowing you to build complex navigation structures and handle routing requirements efficiently.

Other routing libraries

While React Router is a widely-used and feature-rich routing library, there are alternative solutions available that offer different approaches to handling advanced routing in React applications. Here are a few alternatives to consider:

Reach Router

Reach Router is a small, lightweight routing library developed by the same team behind React Router. It focuses on accessibility and is designed to be simple and declarative. Reach Router offers a similar API to React Router and supports nested routes and dynamic route matching.

Comparison with React Router

Aspect	React Router	Reach Router
Nested routes	Yes	Yes
Dynamic routing	Yes	Yes
Protected routes	Yes	No
Custom transitions	Yes	No

When to use Reach Router: Reach Router is a good choice when you prioritize simplicity and accessibility. It's particularly suitable for smaller projects or situations where you don't require advanced features like protected routes or custom transitions.

For more details and usage examples, refer to the Reach Router documentation (opens in a new tab).

Additional resources

Examples

Basic routerCreate a basic router with layouts, nested routes, and route params.Authentication & protecting routesLearn how to protect routes and allow access only to authenticated users.404 pageCreate a 404 not found page.

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