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

/react-router-framework-mode

SKILL.md