react-router vs react-router-dom, when to use one or the other?

React-Router vs React-Router-Dom: When to Use One or the Other? 🔄🚦🤷‍♂️

Are you feeling lost in the world of React-Router and React-Router-Dom? 🌍 Don't worry, you're not alone! Many developers struggle to understand when to use one over the other. 🤔 But fear not, this guide is here to steer you in the right direction! 🚀

Understanding the Difference 🤔

Before we dive into the specifics, let's clear up the confusion between React-Router and React-Router-Dom. 🕵️‍♀️

React-Router is the backbone of the routing mechanism for React applications. It provides all the core routing functionality. 🗺️ On the other hand, React-Router-Dom is a specific implementation of React-Router for web applications. It includes everything in React-Router and adds extra features specifically tailored for the DOM environment, such as <Link> and <BrowserRouter>. 🌐

Now that we've defined the difference, let's discuss when to use each one! 🗓️📝

React-Router 🛣️

React-Router is the foundation of routing in React applications. It's a versatile tool that can be used in various environments, including server-side rendering and native mobile applications. 💪

If you're working on a non-DOM environment, such as a server-side rendering application using Node.js or a React Native mobile app, React-Router is the way to go. 🌐📱

To use React-Router in these environments, you'll typically pass a history object to the <Router> component, like this:

<Router history={browserHistory}>

The browserHistory object is provided by the React-Router package and handles navigation using the browser's native history API. 🚢

React-Router-Dom 🌐

When it comes to web applications, React-Router-Dom is your best friend! 🙌 It builds upon React-Router and provides additional features specifically designed for the DOM environment. 🏰

Features like <Link> and <BrowserRouter> come bundled with React-Router-Dom, and they make building web routing a breeze. 🌬️💨

Here's an example of using React-Router-Dom:

<BrowserRouter>

Using <Link> instead of the regular HTML <a> tag enables you to navigate between different routes in your app easily. No need to reload the whole page! 🚀

When to Use Which? 🤔

To summarize, use React-Router when working on non-DOM environments, such as server-side rendering or React Native apps. For web applications, React-Router-Dom is the way to go! 🌐

Now, let's address the confusion surrounding the history object. 😉 In React-Router-Dom, you don't need to pass the history object explicitly because <BrowserRouter> automatically creates it for you. 🙌

Conclusion and Your Next Steps 💡👣

Congratulations! You've now learned the difference between React-Router and React-Router-Dom, and you know when to use each one. 🎉

The next time you start a new project, make sure to evaluate whether it's a web application or a non-DOM environment. Based on that, you can confidently select the appropriate library. 👍

If you want to dive deeper and learn more about React-Router and React-Router-Dom, check out the official documentation: React-Router Documentation 📚

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or need further clarification. Let's continue this conversation! 💬👇