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:

Version Compatibility

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

npm list react-router

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 hereexport 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:

// ✅ Correctexport function meta({ loaderData }: Route.MetaArgs) { ... }
// ❌ Wrong - `data` is deprecatedexport 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