react-router vs react-router-dom vs connected-react-router vs mobx-react-router
React Routing Libraries Comparison
1 Year
react-routerreact-router-domconnected-react-routermobx-react-routerSimilar Packages:
What's React Routing Libraries?

Routing libraries in React are essential for managing navigation and rendering components based on the current URL. They provide a way to create single-page applications (SPAs) that can dynamically change the content displayed without requiring a full page reload. These libraries help developers define routes, manage browser history, and handle navigation events, enhancing user experience by making applications feel more responsive and interactive. Each library has its own approach and features, catering to different needs in application architecture and state management.

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react-router12,615,96154,0592.28 MB25618 days agoMIT
react-router-dom11,576,74954,0595.44 kB25618 days agoMIT
connected-react-router350,3954,722444 kB175-MIT
mobx-react-router14,21543920.9 kB53 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-router vs react-router-dom vs connected-react-router vs mobx-react-router

Integration with State Management

  • react-router:

    React-router is agnostic to state management solutions, allowing you to use it with any state management library or even without one. It provides a flexible API for defining routes and handling navigation, making it a versatile choice for various applications.

  • react-router-dom:

    React-router-dom is specifically designed for web applications, complementing react-router with additional components and hooks that facilitate DOM manipulation and navigation. It allows for easy integration with any state management solution you choose.

  • connected-react-router:

    This package tightly integrates with Redux, allowing you to manage routing state within your Redux store. It provides actions and reducers that help synchronize the router state with your application's state, making it ideal for applications that heavily rely on Redux for state management.

  • mobx-react-router:

    Mobx-react-router integrates seamlessly with MobX, allowing you to manage routing as part of your observable state. This reactive approach simplifies the handling of route changes and state updates, making it easier to build applications that respond to user interactions without boilerplate code.

Routing Features

  • react-router:

    Includes advanced routing features such as nested routes, route parameters, and lazy loading of components. This flexibility allows developers to create complex routing structures that are easy to manage and maintain.

  • react-router-dom:

    Enhances react-router with web-specific features like browser history management, link components, and route matching, making it easier to build user-friendly web applications.

  • connected-react-router:

    Offers features like route transitions and history management that are directly tied to Redux actions. This allows for a more predictable routing experience, especially in complex applications where state management is crucial.

  • mobx-react-router:

    Provides a simple and reactive way to define routes and handle navigation. It leverages MobX's observables to automatically update components when the route changes, resulting in a more intuitive development experience.

Learning Curve

  • react-router:

    React-router is relatively easy to learn, especially for those who have experience with React. Its documentation is comprehensive, making it accessible for beginners and experienced developers alike.

  • react-router-dom:

    Similar to react-router, react-router-dom is straightforward to learn. It builds on the concepts of react-router while adding web-specific components, making it intuitive for web developers.

  • connected-react-router:

    The learning curve is moderate, especially if you are already familiar with Redux. Understanding how to synchronize routing with Redux actions and state may take some time for new users.

  • mobx-react-router:

    This library has a gentle learning curve for those familiar with MobX. Its reactive nature simplifies routing logic, but understanding MobX concepts is essential for effective use.

Performance

  • react-router:

    Performance is solid, but can vary based on how routes are structured and components are rendered. Utilizing features like code splitting can significantly enhance performance in larger applications.

  • react-router-dom:

    Similar to react-router, it provides good performance for web applications. However, developers should be mindful of how they manage component rendering and routing to avoid performance bottlenecks.

  • connected-react-router:

    Performance is generally good, but it may introduce overhead due to the synchronization with Redux. Properly managing state updates and routing actions can help maintain optimal performance.

  • mobx-react-router:

    Offers excellent performance due to MobX's efficient change detection. The reactive nature ensures that only components that depend on the current route are re-rendered, minimizing unnecessary updates.

Community and Support

  • react-router:

    One of the most popular routing libraries for React, it has a large community and extensive documentation. Many resources, tutorials, and third-party libraries are available to assist developers.

  • react-router-dom:

    Being part of the react-router ecosystem, it enjoys strong community support and a wealth of resources. Its popularity ensures that developers can find help and examples easily.

  • connected-react-router:

    Has a smaller community compared to react-router but benefits from the larger Redux community. Support can be found through Redux-related resources and forums.

  • mobx-react-router:

    The community is smaller, as MobX is less commonly used than Redux. However, MobX's community is active, and resources are available for those who choose this approach.

How to Choose: react-router vs react-router-dom vs connected-react-router vs mobx-react-router
  • react-router:

    Opt for react-router if you need a robust and flexible routing solution that works well with any state management library. It offers a comprehensive set of features for defining routes, nested routing, and route transitions, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

  • react-router-dom:

    Use react-router-dom if you are building a web application that requires routing capabilities specific to the DOM. It extends react-router with additional components and hooks that are tailored for web applications, providing a seamless experience for handling navigation and rendering components based on the URL.

  • connected-react-router:

    Choose connected-react-router if you are using Redux for state management and need to synchronize the router state with the Redux store. This package allows you to keep your routing logic in sync with your application's state, making it easier to manage complex navigation scenarios.

  • mobx-react-router:

    Select mobx-react-router if you are using MobX for state management and prefer a more reactive approach to routing. This library integrates routing with MobX, allowing you to manage routes as observables, which can lead to a more straightforward and less boilerplate-heavy implementation.

README for react-router

react-router is the primary package in the React Router project.

Installation

npm i react-router