React Router v7 App Implementation

1. Route Structure

• Use file-based routing in app/routes/.
• Route files: route.tsx for route components.
• Use underscore prefix for route groups: _app, _landing.
• Use dot notation for nested routes: users.$id.tsx.

2. Data Loading Patterns

• Use loader functions for server-side data fetching.
• Use action functions for form submissions and mutations.
• Leverage useLoaderData() and useActionData() hooks.
• Handle loading states with useNavigation().

3. Route Component Structure

Use arrow functions for all exports.

import type { Route } from './+types/route';

export const loader = async ({ request, params, context }: Route.LoaderArgs) => {
  // Server-side data loading
  // Return an object
  return { ... };
};

export const action = async ({ request, params, context }: Route.ActionArgs) => {
  // Handle form submissions and mutations
  // Return an object
  return { ... };
};

const Page = ({ loaderData, actionData }: Route.ComponentProps) => {
  // Component implementation with typed props
  return (
    <div>
      {/* Content */}
    </div>
  );
};

export default Page;

4. Error Handling

• Use ErrorBoundary components for route-level error handling.
• Implement proper error responses in loaders/actions.
• Use isRouteErrorResponse() for typed error handling.

5. Meta and Headers

• Export meta function for dynamic page metadata.
• Export headers function for custom HTTP headers.
• Use proper SEO practices with meta tags.

6. Project Structure

The app folder should follow this structure:

public                # Static files (images, fonts, etc.)
|
app
|
+-- components        # Shared components
|
+-- config            # Global configuration and environment variables
|
+-- constants         # Global constants
|
+-- hooks             # Shared hooks
|
+-- lib               # Pre-configured reusable libraries
|
+-- routes            # React Router routing directory
|
+-- stores            # Global state stores
|
+-- testing           # Test utilities and mock servers
|
+-- types             # Base types used across the application
|
+-- utils             # Shared utility functions
|

app/components

app/components
|
+-- shadcn
|   |
|   +-- ui              # shadcn/ui components
|       |
|       +-- button.tsx
|       ...
|

routes

Use collocation to group files related to layouts and pages.

app/routes/_app._index
|
+-- assets      # Feature-specific static files
|
+-- components  # Feature-scoped components
|
+-- constants   # Feature-specific constants
|
+-- hooks       # Feature-scoped hooks
|
+-- services    # Feature services (business logic)
|
+-- stores      # Feature state stores
|
+-- types       # Feature-specific TypeScript types
|
+-- utils       # Feature-specific utility functions

Example structure:

app/routes
|
+-- _app                # App-wide layout & shared files
|   |
|   +-- route.tsx       # Layout file
|   
+-- _app.index          # App top page
|   |
|   +-- route.tsx       # Page file
|   
+-- _app.todos          # (Example) todos layout & shared files
|   |
|   +-- components      # Components used in layout
|   |
|   +-- types           # Types common to todos
|   |
|   +-- route.tsx       # Layout file
|
+-- _app.todos._index   # (Example) todos top page
|   |
|   +-- components      # Components used in page
|   |
|   +-- route.tsx       # Page file
|
+-- _app.todos.$todoId.edit._index  # (Example) todos edit page
|   |
|   +-- components      # Components used in page
|   |
|   +-- hooks           # Hooks used in page
|   |
|   +-- stores          # Stores used in page
|   |
|   +-- route.tsx       # Page file
|
+-- _app.todos.$todoId_.delete      # (Example) todos delete resource route
    |
    +-- route.tsx       # Resource route file

7. Advanced Routing Patterns

Nested Routes for UI Segmentation

Use nested routes to split complex pages (e.g., tabs) into independent route modules.

• Parent route renders shared UI and <Outlet />.
• Child routes handle their own data loading (loader) and mutations (action).
• Reduces prop drilling and isolates logic.

Example (Tabs):

• routes/user.tsx: Renders tabs navigation and <Outlet />.
• routes/user.profile.tsx: Renders profile tab content.
• routes/user.account.tsx: Renders account tab content.

Route-based Modals

Manage modal state via URLs instead of useState.

• Define the modal as a child route.
• Parent route renders the background UI and <Outlet />.
• Modal component renders inside the <Outlet /> (often using a Dialog component).
• Closing the modal is a navigation action (e.g., <Link to="..">).

Example:

• routes/users.tsx: Lists users and contains <Outlet />.
• routes/users.new.tsx: Renders the "Create User" modal.