Expo Router vs React Navigation Guide

This guide explores the transition from React Navigation to Expo Router, highlighting the key differences, advantages, and parameter handling approaches.

Introduction

What is React Navigation?

React Navigation is a standalone library that provides routing and navigation functionality for React Native apps(1). It offers:

• Multiple navigation patterns (Stack, Tab, Drawer)
• Cross-platform support
• Customizable navigation UI
• Deep linking capabilities

What is Expo Router?

Expo Router is a file-based routing system built on top of React Navigation(2). Key features include:

• File-system based routing
• Automatic deep linking
• Native platform optimization
• Offline-first functionality
• Universal routing across platforms
• SEO-friendly with static rendering for web

Why Consider Switching?

Advantages of Expo Router

1. Simplified Routing

   • File-based routing eliminates manual route configuration
   • More intuitive for developers familiar with Next.js or similar frameworks
   • Automatic deep linking for all routes

2. Performance

   • Routes are automatically optimized with lazy loading
   • Built-in route caching
   • Faster development iterations with universal Fast Refresh

3. Developer Experience

   • Less boilerplate code
   • Unified routing structure across platforms
   • Better TypeScript integration
   • Automatic static optimization for web

Potential Drawbacks

1. Learning Curve

   • New mental model for routing
   • Different approach to navigation patterns
   • Limited documentation compared to React Navigation

2. Flexibility

   • Less control over navigation configuration
   • Tied to Expo ecosystem
   • May require directory restructuring in existing projects

Parameter Handling

One of the key differences between React Navigation and Expo Router is how they handle navigation parameters. Let's explore both approaches:

React Navigation Parameters

// Navigation
navigation.navigate('UserProfile', { userId: 123 });

// Accessing params
const { userId } = route.params;

Expo Router Parameters

// Navigation
router.push('/user/123');

// Dynamic routes using [param].js
// app/user/[id].js
import { useLocalSearchParams } from 'expo-router';
export default function UserProfile() {
const { id } = useLocalSearchParams();
// id = 123
}

Next Steps

This repository will explore practical examples of parameter handling in Expo Router, including:

• Dynamic route parameters
• Query parameters
• Deep linking with parameters
• Type-safe parameter handling
• State management integration