Simplifying Client-Side Routing with Wouter
The JavaScript ecosystem is constantly evolving, and the community strives to address emerging issues. When it comes to React, the go-to routing solution is often misunderstood as React Router. However, most Facebook projects don’t even use it. For many web app projects, a lightweight and straightforward routing library can suffice. Enter Wouter, a promising alternative that’s gaining traction.
How Client-Side Routing Works
Client-side routing (CSR) is similar to server-side routing (SSR), except it’s handled by the browser. In a typical web app, multiple pages or routes map to different URLs. Each page has its logic and template, which is rendered when the route is called. CSR is handled entirely by the browser’s JavaScript engine, enabling seamless navigation between pages without losing state or app data.
Wouter Features and Advantages
Wouter offers several advantages over React Router, including:
- Zero dependencies, with a minuscule 1308 bytes gzipped footprint
- Support for Preact, a tiny alternative to React with the same API
- Optional
<Router />component - Hook-based API for greater control over routing
Getting Started with Wouter
Setting up routing with Wouter is remarkably simple. Import the Link and Route components, and you’re ready to go. This minimal setup contrasts sharply with the boilerplate required by React Router.
Wouter Components
Wouter provides several essential components, including:
<Route />: Represents a part of the app rendered conditionally based on a specific pattern<Link />: Renders an anchor<a />element that navigates to the specified route on click<Switch />: Enables exclusive routing, rendering only the first matching route<Redirect />: Redirects the user to another route using thetoprop
Making the Current Link Active
While Wouter doesn’t provide built-in support for determining active links, you can easily implement this functionality using the useRoute Hook and a wrapper component.
Using Wouter for Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
To use Wouter in a server-side context, instruct the router to handle incoming HTTP requests using the staticLocationHook. This allows Wouter to detect redirects and handle the location history.
Minimizing Bundle Size
If you’re concerned about bundle size, you can use the useLocation Hook to handle routes manually, reducing the bundle size even further.
Obsolete Platform Support
Wouter uses the latest EcmaScript (ES) 6 features and doesn’t provide ES5 transpiled source code. If you need to support legacy browsers, ensure you run Babel over the node_modules folder.
Pros and Cons Compared to React Router
Wouter offers several pros, including its tiny size, simplicity, and suitability for small apps. However, it also has some cons, such as limited functionality, smaller community support, and unsuitability for complex enterprise-level apps.
Conclusion
Wouter is not a replacement for React Router, but it can be an excellent choice for small projects or developers looking to explore React Hooks. Its simplicity and minimalism make it an attractive alternative for those who don’t need the full range of React Router features.