Types of Routers in React JS
The following are some of the commonly used router libraries for ReactJS:-
-
React Router: React Router is the most popular and widely used routing library for React applications. It provides a set of components and tools for handling client-side routing. It includes features like nested routes, route parameters, and route guarding.
-
Wouter: Wouter is a lightweight routing library for React. It is designed to be very small in size and easy to use. Wouter is a great choice for small to medium-sized applications where a minimalistic router is preferred.
- React Query Router: If you need to manage complex data fetching, caching, and routing, you might consider using React Query Router. It integrates React Query with routing to provide data management and navigation in your application.
Components in React router library
The following are some of the key components of the react router library:-
BrowserRouter
This component is used to configure the routing for your application. It should be placed at the top level of your component hierarchy.
Route
The Route component is used to define individual routes in your application. It specifies a path and the component to render when that path is matched.
Switch
The Switch component ensures that only one route is rendered at a time. It renders the first Route that matches the current URL and prevents multiple route components from rendering simultaneously.
Link
The Link component creates navigation links to the routes in your application. It navigates between different routes without causing a full page reload.
Implementation of Router in React JS
To implement client-side routing in React JS, you first need to install a routing library like react-router-dom using the following command:-
npm install react-router-dom
Then, in the App.js file, you can define all the routes in the application using the Switch and Route components.
<Switch>
<Route exact path="/" component={Home} />
<Route path="/about" component={About} />
<Route path="/contact" component={Contact} />
</Switch>
Make sure to import the components that you are rendering in the App.js file along with Switch and Route components.
React Router Switch
The React Router Switch is a component of React that is used to monitor all the child routes and shows the first one whose path matches the current URL. You must have faced an issue where you have multiple pages and after clicking on a page, you see all the pages. You can fix this issue using the Switch statement. Let’s take an example for better understanding.
import { BrowserRouter as Router, Switch, Route } from "react-router-dom";
export default function App() {
return (
<Router>
<Navbar />
<Switch>
<Route exact path="/" component={Home} />
<Route path="/about" component={About} />
<Route path="/contact" component={Contact} />
</Switch>
</Router>
);
}
Explanation:
In the above example, we have used the Switch component in React Router. As you can see, there are three separate routes for each component that will help the system to know where the user wants to navigate.
React Router <Redirect>
The <Redirect> component is used in the older version of React to redirect anything just by importing the <Redirect> component from react-router-dom. The navigate component is the replacement of the <Redirect> component. Let’s look at the command to use the Redirect> component in React Router.
import { Redirect } from 'react-router-dom';
<Route path='/redirect-page' element={ <Redirect to="/about" /> }/>
Nested Routing in React
As the name says, nested routing in React is a component in React using which we can go inside a folder of the folder. We will take an example to understand this in a better way.
import { BrowserRouter as Router, Routes, Route } from "react-router-dom"
export default function App() {
return (
<Router>
<Routes>
<Route path='/' element={<Home />} />
<Route path='about' element={<About />} />
<Route path=contact element={<Contact />}>
<Route path=email element={<Email />} /> {/*A nested route!*/}
<Route path=':phoneId' element={<Phone />} /> {/*A nested route!*/}
</Route>
</Routes>
</Router>
)
}
Explanation:
As you can see in the above code, we have used nested routing in React. The nested routing can be the reason for a different file structure, as it will create a subheading of a single Route path.
Benefits of React Router
The benefits of React Router include the following:
-
The speed of routing between components increases as the rendering of data decreases.
-
Animations and transitions are easily done by the React Router for a better user experience.
-
The user can feel the real sense of the single-page app in action without facing separate page rendering.
Also See, Dropdown in React JS, Hooks in React JS
Check out Advantages of React JS here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are hooks in React?
Hooks in React are functions that allow functional components to manage state, side effects, and other React features previously available only in class components.
What is the main function of routing?
Routing in React manages navigation and URL changes, which enables dynamic rendering of components based on URLs, creating single-page applications (SPAs).
Is React router an API?
Yes, React Router is an API that handles client-side routing in React applications and provides components and methods to manage navigation and route rendering.
Which React router is best?
The best React router depends on your project requirements. React Router is a popular choice for web apps, while React Navigation is suited for React Native mobile apps.
What is Router in React JS used for?
A Router in React JS is used to define multiple routers in a React-based web application. When a user types a specific URL into their browser, and that URL path matches one of the 'routes' in the router file, the user is routed to that Route.
Do I need a Router in React JS?
No, a Router in React JS is not compulsory. However, it is rich with navigational components, which can be very useful for larger and more complex navigational requirements in React applications.
Is react-router official?
Yes, it is an official and standard routing package in React.
Conclusion
Today, we learned about how to use a Router in ReactJS to redirect React applications.
We learned about three primary components: React routers, route matchers, and navigation of Routers in React JS. Then we constructed a browser router application and learned how to use routers to navigate.
Recommended Reading
You can also consider our React Js Course to give your career an edge over others.
Happy Learning!
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