React Router

Detailed Explanation

React Router is a Library for React that manages navigation between pages in your Web Application. Instead of the browser requesting a new page from the Server for each click, React Router swaps out components on the client side — making navigation instant.

React Router does three critical things:

1. Routing: Maps URLs to components. When a user visits /posts, React Router shows the Posts component. Visit /posts/123 and it shows the SinglePost component.

2. Data Loading: Loaders fetch data from your Database (like Supabase) before the page renders. This means no loading spinners — the data is ready when the component appears. You access loader data with useLoaderData.

3. Data Mutations: Actions handle form submissions. When a user creates a post, the action processes the formData, saves it to the database, and can redirect to the new page. You access action responses with useActionData.

Key hooks you'll use with React Router:

• useLoaderData — access data from the Route's loader
• useActionData — access responses from form submissions
• useNavigation — check if the app is loading or submitting
• useRouteError — access error details in error boundaries

React Router also provides error boundaries (via errorElement) to catch crashes, protected routes for pages requiring Authentication, and nested routing for layouts that wrap multiple pages.

In a Vibe Coding workflow, Claude Code generates React Router configurations, loaders, actions, and forms based on your descriptions. Your job is to understand the data flow pattern: loader fetches → component renders → user submits form → action processes → redirect or show result.