Router Core

Quick Decision Tree

Need to add/read/write URL query parameters?
  → router-core/search-params

Need dynamic URL segments like /posts/$postId?
  → router-core/path-params

Need to create links or navigate programmatically?
  → router-core/navigation

Need to fetch data for a route?
  Is it client-side only or client+server?
    → router-core/data-loading
  Using TanStack Query as external cache?
    → compositions/router-query (separate skill)

Need to protect routes behind auth?
  → router-core/auth-and-guards

Need to reduce bundle size per route?
  → router-core/code-splitting

Need custom 404 or error handling?
  → router-core/not-found-and-errors

Having TypeScript issues or performance problems?
  → router-core/type-safety

Need server-side rendering?
  → router-core/ssr

Minimal Working Example

// src/routes/__root.tsx
import { createRootRoute, Outlet } from '@tanstack/react-router'

export const Route = createRootRoute({
  component: () => <Outlet />,
})

// src/routes/index.tsx
import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'

export const Route = createFileRoute('/')({
  component: () => <h1>Home</h1>,
})

// src/router.tsx
import { createRouter } from '@tanstack/react-router'
import { routeTree } from './routeTree.gen'

const router = createRouter({ routeTree })

// REQUIRED for type safety — without this, Link/useNavigate have no autocomplete
declare module '@tanstack/react-router' {
  interface Register {
    router: typeof router
  }
}

export default router

// src/main.tsx
import { RouterProvider } from '@tanstack/react-router'
import router from './router'

function App() {
  return <RouterProvider router={router} />
}

Common Mistakes

HIGH: createFileRoute path string must match the file path

The Vite plugin manages the path string in createFileRoute. Do not change it manually — it must match the file's location under src/routes/:

// File: src/routes/posts/$postId.tsx
export const Route = createFileRoute('/posts/$postId')({
  // ✅ matches file path
  component: PostPage,
})

export const Route = createFileRoute('/post/$postId')({
  // ❌ silent mismatch
  component: PostPage,
})

The plugin auto-generates this string. If you rename a route file, the plugin updates it. Never edit the path string by hand.

Version Note

This skill targets @tanstack/router-core v1.166.2 and @tanstack/react-router v1.166.2. APIs are stable. Splat routes use $ (not *); the * compat alias will be removed in v2.