react-router vs react-router-dom
Routing in React Applications Comparison
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What's Routing in React Applications?

react-router is a popular routing library for React applications that enables navigation between different components or views based on the URL. It provides a declarative way to define routes, handle dynamic routing, and manage navigation state. react-router-dom is a specific package within the react-router ecosystem designed for web applications. It includes additional components and functionality tailored for browser environments, such as support for the HTML5 history API, navigation components like Link and NavLink, and routing context providers. While react-router provides the core routing functionality, react-router-dom extends it with web-specific features, making it the go-to choice for routing in React web applications.

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react-router19,466,647
55,4553.78 MB12916 days agoMIT
react-router-dom17,516,432
55,4555.42 kB12916 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-router vs react-router-dom

Platform Specificity

  • react-router:

    react-router is platform-agnostic and can be used in any React application, including web, mobile, and desktop. It provides the core routing functionality without being tied to any specific platform.

  • react-router-dom:

    react-router-dom is specifically designed for web applications. It includes components and APIs that leverage web technologies, such as the HTML5 history API, making it more suitable for browser-based applications.

Web-Specific Features

  • react-router:

    react-router does not include any web-specific features or components. It provides a flexible routing solution that can be adapted to any platform.

  • react-router-dom:

    react-router-dom includes web-specific features such as the Link and NavLink components for navigation, the BrowserRouter and HashRouter components for managing browser history, and support for server-side rendering (SSR) with the StaticRouter component.

Routing Components

  • react-router:

    react-router provides the core routing components, such as Router, Route, and Switch, which can be used to define routes and handle navigation.

  • react-router-dom:

    react-router-dom builds on top of the core routing components and adds additional components and utilities for web applications, such as Link, NavLink, Redirect, and Prompt, which enhance the routing experience in browser environments.

Documentation and Community

  • react-router:

    react-router has comprehensive documentation and a large community of developers across various platforms, including web and mobile.

  • react-router-dom:

    react-router-dom benefits from the same extensive documentation and community support, with additional resources and examples tailored for web developers.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

  • react-router:

    Basic routing with react-router

    import { Router, Route } from 'react-router';
import { createMemoryHistory } from 'history';

const history = createMemoryHistory();

const App = () => (
  <Router history={history}>
    <Route path="/" component={Home} />
    <Route path="/about" component={About} />
  </Router>
);
  • react-router-dom:

    Basic routing with react-router-dom

    import { BrowserRouter as Router, Route, Link } from 'react-router-dom';

const App = () => (
  <Router>
    <nav>
      <Link to="/">Home</Link>
      <Link to="/about">About</Link>
    </nav>
    <Route path="/" exact component={Home} />
    <Route path="/about" component={About} />
  </Router>
);
How to Choose: react-router vs react-router-dom
  • react-router:

    Choose react-router if you are building a routing solution that needs to be platform-agnostic, such as for React Native or other non-web environments. It provides the core routing functionality without any web-specific dependencies.

  • react-router-dom:

    Choose react-router-dom if you are developing a web application with React. It includes all the features of react-router along with additional components and APIs optimized for web browsers, making it easier to handle navigation, links, and browser history.

Similar Npm Packages to react-router

react-router is a popular routing library for React applications that enables developers to create dynamic and navigable user interfaces. It provides a powerful and flexible way to manage navigation and rendering of components based on the application's URL. With features like nested routes, route parameters, and programmatic navigation, react-router allows for a seamless user experience in single-page applications (SPAs).

One of the most common alternatives to react-router is react-router-dom. This package is specifically designed for web applications and builds on top of react-router, providing additional components and functionality tailored for browser environments. react-router-dom includes features such as the BrowserRouter, Link, and Route components, which facilitate navigation and routing in web applications. If you are building a web application with React, react-router-dom is the go-to choice for implementing routing.

While react-router serves as the core library for routing in React, react-router-dom extends its capabilities for web applications, making it easier to manage routes and navigation in a browser context.

For a detailed comparison between these two packages, visit: Comparing react-router vs react-router-dom.

Similar Npm Packages to react-router-dom

react-router-dom is a popular routing library for React applications that enables developers to create dynamic single-page applications (SPAs) with ease. It provides a powerful set of components and hooks for managing navigation, rendering UI based on the current URL, and handling route transitions. With react-router-dom, developers can create nested routes, route parameters, and even handle redirects, making it a versatile choice for routing in React applications.

While react-router-dom is widely used, there are several alternatives available that cater to different needs and preferences:

  • @reach/router is a lightweight routing library designed for accessibility and simplicity. It focuses on providing a minimalistic API while ensuring that the routes are accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies. @reach/router is a great choice for developers who prioritize accessibility and want a straightforward routing solution without the additional complexity that may come with other libraries.

  • react-router is the core library behind react-router-dom, providing the fundamental routing capabilities for React applications. While react-router-dom is specifically tailored for web applications, react-router can be used in various environments, including React Native. If you are looking for a more flexible solution that can be adapted to different platforms, react-router is a solid option.

  • react-router-native is an extension of react-router designed specifically for React Native applications. It allows developers to implement routing in mobile applications with a similar API to react-router-dom, making it easier to share routing logic between web and mobile platforms. If you are building a React Native application and want to leverage the familiar routing patterns of react-router, react-router-native is the ideal choice.

To see how these packages compare, check out the comparison: Comparing @reach/router vs react-router vs react-router-dom vs react-router-native.

README for react-router

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

Installation

npm i react-router
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