React Router Framework Mode

React Router Framework Mode

Framework mode is React Router's full-stack development experience with file-based routing, server-side, client-side, and static rendering strategies, data loading and mutations, and type-safe route module API.

When to Apply

• Configuring new routes (app/routes.ts)
• Loading data with loader or clientLoader
• Handling mutations with action or clientAction
• Navigating with <Link>, <NavLink>, <Form>, redirect, and useNavigate
• Implementing pending/loading UI states
• Configuring SSR, SPA mode, or pre-rendering (react-router.config.ts)
• Implementing authentication

References

Load the relevant reference for detailed guidance on the specific API/concept:

| Reference | Use When |

| ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- |

| references/routing.md | Configuring routes, nested routes, dynamic segments |

| references/route-modules.md | Understanding all route module exports |

| references/special-files.md | Customizing root.tsx, adding global nav/footer, fonts |

| references/data-loading.md | Loading data with loaders, streaming, caching |

| references/actions.md | Handling forms, mutations, validation |

| references/navigation.md | Links, programmatic navigation, redirects |

| references/pending-ui.md | Loading states, optimistic UI |

| references/error-handling.md | Error boundaries, error reporting |

| references/rendering-strategies.md | SSR vs SPA vs pre-rendering configuration |

| references/middleware.md | Adding middleware (requires v7.9.0+) |

| references/sessions.md | Cookie sessions, authentication, protected routes |

| references/type-safety.md | Auto-generated route types, type imports, type safety |

Version Compatibility

Some features require specific React Router versions. Always verify before implementing:

npm list react-router

| Feature | Minimum Version | Notes |

| ----------------------- | --------------- | ----------------------------- |

| Middleware | 7.9.0+ | Requires v8_middleware flag |

| Core framework features | 7.0.0+ | loaders, actions, Form, etc. |

Critical Patterns

These are the most important patterns to follow. Load the relevant reference for full details.

Forms & Mutations

Search forms - use <Form method="get">, NOT onSubmit with setSearchParams:

// ✅ Correct
<Form method="get">
  <input name="q" />
</Form>

// ❌ Wrong - don't manually handle search params
<form onSubmit={(e) => { e.preventDefault(); setSearchParams(...) }}>

Inline mutations - use useFetcher, NOT <Form> (which causes page navigation):

const fetcher = useFetcher();
const optimistic = fetcher.formData?.get("favorite") === "true" ?? isFavorite;

<fetcher.Form method="post" action={`/favorites/${id}`}>
  <button>{optimistic ? "★" : "☆"}</button>
</fetcher.Form>;

See references/actions.md for complete patterns.

Layouts

Global UI belongs in root.tsx - don't create separate layout files for nav/footer:

// app/root.tsx - add navigation, footer, providers here
export default function App() {
  return (
    <div>
      <nav>...</nav>
      <Outlet />
      <footer>...</footer>
    </div>
  );
}

Use nested routes for section-specific layouts. See references/routing.md.

Route Module Exports

meta uses loaderData, not deprecated data:

// ✅ Correct
export function meta({ loaderData }: Route.MetaArgs) { ... }

// ❌ Wrong - `data` is deprecated
export function meta({ data }: Route.MetaArgs) { ... }

See references/route-modules.md for all exports.

Further Documentation

If anything related to React Router is not covered in these references, you can search the official documentation:

https://reactrouter.com/docs