Which is Better React Routing Libraries?
react-router vs react-router-dom vs @reach/router vs react-router-native
1 Year
react-routerreact-router-dom@reach/routerreact-router-nativeSimilar Packages:
What's React Routing Libraries?

Routing libraries in React are essential for managing navigation and rendering different components based on the URL. They provide a way to handle client-side routing, allowing developers to create single-page applications (SPAs) with smooth transitions between views without reloading the entire page. These libraries enable developers to define routes, manage URL parameters, and handle navigation events, making it easier to build dynamic and responsive web applications.

NPM Package Downloads Trend
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Package
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react-router10,927,68253,124858 kB1409 days agoMIT
react-router-dom10,462,75853,124901 kB1409 days agoMIT
@reach/router675,8516,895-1724 years agoMIT
react-router-native21,70553,12439.6 kB1409 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-router vs react-router-dom vs @reach/router vs react-router-native

Accessibility

  • react-router: react-router does not have built-in accessibility features but allows developers to implement their own accessibility practices. It requires additional effort to ensure that routes and navigation are accessible, as it focuses more on flexibility and customization than on accessibility out of the box.
  • react-router-dom: react-router-dom inherits the accessibility considerations of react-router but offers additional components that can be used to improve accessibility. Developers need to manually implement ARIA roles and attributes to ensure a fully accessible experience.
  • @reach/router: @reach/router is built with accessibility in mind, ensuring that routes and navigation elements are usable by all users, including those relying on screen readers. It provides ARIA roles and attributes automatically, enhancing the accessibility of your application without additional configuration.
  • react-router-native: react-router-native is designed for mobile applications and includes considerations for touch interactions. However, like react-router, it requires developers to implement accessibility features manually to ensure a fully inclusive experience.

Complexity and Features

  • react-router: react-router is feature-rich and supports complex routing scenarios, including nested routes, route matching, and dynamic routing. It is suitable for larger applications where advanced routing capabilities are necessary, but this complexity can lead to a steeper learning curve.
  • react-router-dom: react-router-dom builds on react-router's features and adds DOM-specific components, making it easier to handle routing in web applications. It provides a more straightforward API for web developers, but it still retains the complexity of react-router for advanced use cases.
  • @reach/router: @reach/router is designed to be simple and minimalistic, making it easy to get started with routing in React applications. It provides essential routing features without overwhelming the developer with too many options, making it ideal for smaller projects or those new to routing.
  • react-router-native: react-router-native simplifies routing for React Native applications, focusing on mobile-specific navigation patterns. It abstracts some of the complexities found in react-router, making it easier to implement routing in mobile apps while still allowing for customization.

Community and Ecosystem

  • react-router: react-router has a large and active community, providing extensive documentation, tutorials, and third-party libraries. Its popularity ensures that developers can find support and resources easily, making it a safe choice for many projects.
  • react-router-dom: react-router-dom benefits from the same large community as react-router, with additional resources specifically for web applications. This makes it easier to find solutions to common problems and integrate with other libraries in the React ecosystem.
  • @reach/router: @reach/router has a smaller community compared to react-router, which may result in fewer resources, tutorials, and third-party integrations. However, it is still well-maintained and has a dedicated user base focused on accessibility.
  • react-router-native: react-router-native has a smaller community compared to react-router and react-router-dom, but it is growing as more developers adopt React Native. Resources are available, but they may not be as extensive as those for web-focused libraries.

Learning Curve

  • react-router: react-router has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set and flexibility. Developers may need to invest more time to understand its concepts, especially when dealing with advanced routing scenarios.
  • react-router-dom: react-router-dom is easier to learn for web developers familiar with react-router, as it provides a more straightforward API for handling DOM-specific routing. However, it still retains some complexity for advanced use cases.
  • @reach/router: @reach/router has a gentle learning curve, making it accessible for beginners. Its minimal API allows developers to quickly grasp the concepts of routing without getting bogged down in complex configurations.
  • react-router-native: react-router-native is designed to be intuitive for developers familiar with React and React Native. Its API is similar to react-router, but it focuses on mobile navigation patterns, making it easier for mobile developers to adapt.

Performance

  • react-router: react-router is optimized for performance but can become complex in larger applications, potentially leading to performance issues if not managed correctly. Developers need to be mindful of how they structure their routes to maintain performance.
  • react-router-dom: react-router-dom inherits the performance characteristics of react-router, providing efficient routing for web applications. However, like react-router, it requires careful management of routes to avoid performance bottlenecks.
  • @reach/router: @reach/router is lightweight and optimized for performance, making it suitable for applications where speed is a priority. Its minimalistic approach ensures that routing does not introduce significant overhead.
  • react-router-native: react-router-native is designed for mobile applications and focuses on performance, ensuring smooth navigation experiences. It is optimized for mobile environments, but developers should still consider performance implications when implementing complex routing.
How to Choose: react-router vs react-router-dom vs @reach/router vs react-router-native
  • react-router: Choose react-router if you need a robust and flexible routing solution that supports complex routing scenarios. It is highly customizable and provides advanced features like nested routes, route matching, and dynamic routing, making it suitable for larger applications.
  • react-router-dom: Choose react-router-dom if you are building a web application that requires DOM-specific routing features. It extends react-router with additional components and hooks specifically designed for web applications, allowing for seamless integration with the browser's history and location APIs.
  • @reach/router: Choose @reach/router if you prioritize accessibility and simplicity in your routing solution. It is designed with a focus on providing a minimal API and ensuring that your application is accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies.
  • react-router-native: Choose react-router-native if you are developing a React Native application. It provides routing capabilities tailored for mobile environments, allowing you to create a smooth navigation experience in your mobile apps while leveraging the same routing principles as react-router.
README for react-router

React Router

The react-router package is the heart of React Router and provides all the core functionality for both react-router-dom and react-router-native.

If you're using React Router, you should never import anything directly from the react-router package, but you should have everything you need in either react-router-dom or react-router-native. Both of those packages re-export everything from react-router.

If you'd like to extend React Router and you know what you're doing, you should add react-router as a peer dependency, not a regular dependency in your package.