React Router 7 represents a major evolution of the React routing ecosystem. It combines the power of Remix and introduces important improvements. This article explores the core changes and demonstrates their practical application.
Enhance data loading with lazy components
React Router 7 brings a more advanced and efficient method of delaying component data loading, allowing applications to transfer data incrementally:
import { defer, useLoaderData, Await } from 'react-router';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
interface ProductData {
id: string;
name: string;
details: {
description: string;
price: number;
};
}
async function loader({ params }: { params: { id: string } }) {
return defer({
product: fetchProduct(params.id),
recommendations: fetchRecommendations(params.id)
});
}
function ProductPage() {
const { product, recommendations } = useLoaderData<typeof loader>();
return (
<div>
<Suspense fallback={<ProductSkeleton />}>
<Await resolve={product}>
{(resolvedProduct: ProductData) => (
<ProductDetails product={resolvedProduct} />
)}
</Await>
</Suspense>
<Suspense fallback={<RecommendationsSkeleton />}>
<Await resolve={recommendations}>
{(resolvedRecommendations) => (
<RecommendationsList items={resolvedRecommendations} />
)}
</Await>
</Suspense>
</div>
);
}
Server-side rendering optimization
The framework now includes built-in server-side rendering optimizations, especially beneficial for large applications:
import { createStaticHandler, createStaticRouter } from '@react-router/core';
import type { ServerResponse } from 'http';
interface AppContext {
req: Request;
res: ServerResponse;
}
async function handleRequest(context: AppContext) {
const handler = createStaticHandler(routes);
const response = await handler.query(
new Request(context.req.url, {
method: context.req.method,
headers: context.req.headers,
})
);
return response;
}
const router = createStaticRouter(routes, {
basename: '/app',
hydrationData: {
loaderData: initialData,
},
});
Enhance type safety with TypeScript
React Router 7 highlights improved TypeScript integration:
import { type LoaderFunctionArgs, json } from '@remix-run/router';
interface UserData {
id: string;
name: string;
email: string;
}
interface LoaderError {
message: string;
code: number;
}
async function loader({
params,
request
}: LoaderFunctionArgs): Promise<Response> {
try {
const userData: UserData = await fetchUser(params.userId);
return json(userData);
} catch (error) {
const errorData: LoaderError = {
message: 'Failed to fetch user',
code: 404
};
return json(errorData, { status: 404 });
}
}
Client data mutation
The framework introduces a more streamlined way to handle client-side mutations, it’s like a loader, but this time you will be able to submit a form or perform any action:
import { useFetcher } from 'react-router';
interface CommentData {
id: string;
content: string;
userId: string;
}
function CommentForm() {
const fetcher = useFetcher();
const isSubmitting = fetcher.state === 'submitting';
return (
<fetcher.Form method="post" action="/comments">
<textarea name="content" required />
<button type="submit" disabled={isSubmitting}>
{isSubmitting ? 'Posting...' : 'Post Comment'}
</button>
</fetcher.Form>
);
}
async function action({ request }: { request: Request }) {
const formData = await request.formData();
const comment: Partial<CommentData> = {
content: formData.get('content') as string,
userId: getCurrentUserId()
};
const newComment = await saveComment(comment);
return json(newComment);
}
Performance improvements
React Router 7 introduces significant performance optimizations through enhanced route prefetching:
function Navigation() {
return (
<nav>
<PrefetchPageLinks page="/dashboard" />
<Link
to="/dashboard"
prefetch="intent"
unstable_viewTransition
>
Dashboard
</Link>
</nav>
);
}
**
SPA mode
You will be able to turn SPA mode on or off
//react-router.config.ts
import { type Config } from "@react-router/dev/config";
export default {
ssr: false,
} satisfies Config;
Here’s how to bring All Remix functionality to React
To use these features with Vite, you need the following configuration:
// vite.config.ts
-import { vitePlugin as remix } from "@remix-run/dev";
+import { reactRouter } from "@react-router/dev/vite";
import { defineConfig } from "vite";
import tsconfigPaths from "vite-tsconfig-paths";
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [
- remix(), // remove remix
+ reactRouter(), // add reactRouter instead
tsconfigPaths(),
],
});
notes: For upgrades to react-router v.6, you will use react-router instead of react in vite.
This setting gives you access to Remix-like features such as:
- Data loading and mutation
- Nested layout
- error bound
- progressive enhancement
- Form processing
- type safety
- Server-side rendering capabilities
- Optimistic UI updates
The combination of React Router 7 and Vite Providing a powerful development environment that brings Remix’s many innovative features to any React application while maintaining the flexibility to choose your preferred tooling and deployment strategy, this convergence promises:
- Improve developer experience by integrating APIs
- Enhanced performance optimization
- Better integration with modern React features
- Simplify migration paths between platforms
For developers interested in delving deeper into these changes, consider exploring: