codyswanngt/expo-router-best-practices

Expo Router Best Practices

This skill provides guidance for implementing file-based routing with Expo Router following established best practices and official documentation patterns.

Core Principles

1. Routes Are Thin Wrappers

Route files in the app/ directory should be minimal pass-throughs to feature screen components. Business logic and complex UI components belong in feature directories, not route files.

// app/players/[playerId]/compare.tsx - CORRECT
import { Main } from "@/features/compare-players/screens/Main";

/**
 * Compare players route.
 * URL: /players/[playerId]/compare
 */
export default function CompareScreen() {
  return <Main />;
}

// app/players/[playerId]/compare.tsx - INCORRECT
export default function CompareScreen() {
  const { playerId } = useLocalSearchParams();
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);
  // ... 200 lines of business logic
  return <ComplexUI />;
}

2. Descriptive Component Names

Use descriptive names for route components, not generic names.

// CORRECT
export default function CompareScreen() { ... }
export default function PlayerDetailScreen() { ... }
export default function SettingsScreen() { ... }

// INCORRECT
export default function Screen() { ... }
export default function Page() { ... }
export default function Index() { ... }  // only acceptable for index.tsx files

3. Document Route URLs in JSDoc

Include the URL pattern in route file documentation.

/**
 * Player detail route.
 * URL: /players/[playerId]
 */
export default function PlayerDetailScreen() {
  return <Main />;
}

File Structure Patterns

Directory Organization

app/
├── _layout.tsx              # Root layout (initialization, providers)
├── index.tsx                # Default route (/)
├── +not-found.tsx           # 404 handling
├── +html.tsx                # Web HTML customization (optional)
├── (tabs)/                  # Tab navigator group
│   ├── _layout.tsx          # Tab configuration
│   ├── index.tsx            # Default tab
│   ├── feed/                # Stack within tab
│   │   ├── _layout.tsx
│   │   ├── index.tsx
│   │   └── [postId].tsx
│   └── settings.tsx
├── (auth)/                  # Auth screens group
│   ├── sign-in.tsx
│   └── create-account.tsx
└── modal.tsx                # Modal route

Route Notation Reference

| Notation | Purpose | Example | URL | | ---------------- | --------------------------- | -------------------- | -------- | | file.tsx | Static route | about.tsx | /about | | [param].tsx | Dynamic route | [userId].tsx | /123 | | [...slug].tsx | Catch-all route | [...path].tsx | /a/b/c | | (group)/ | Route group (no URL impact) | (tabs)/ | / | | index.tsx | Default route | feed/index.tsx | /feed | | _layout.tsx | Layout definition | (tabs)/_layout.tsx | - | | +not-found.tsx | 404 handler | +not-found.tsx | - |

Layout Patterns

Root Layout

The root _layout.tsx replaces App.jsx/tsx. Place initialization code here.

// app/_layout.tsx
import { useFonts } from "expo-font";
import { Stack } from "expo-router";
import * as SplashScreen from "expo-splash-screen";
import { useEffect } from "react";

SplashScreen.preventAutoHideAsync();

export default function RootLayout() {
  const [loaded] = useFonts({
    SpaceMono: require("../assets/fonts/SpaceMono-Regular.ttf"),
  });

  useEffect(() => {
    if (loaded) {
      SplashScreen.hide();
    }
  }, [loaded]);

  if (!loaded) {
    return null;
  }

  return <Stack />;
}

Stack Layout

// app/products/_layout.tsx
import { Stack } from "expo-router";

export const unstable_settings = {
  initialRouteName: "index",
};

export default function ProductsLayout() {
  return (
    <Stack>
      <Stack.Screen name="index" options={{ title: "Products" }} />
      <Stack.Screen name="[productId]" options={{ headerShown: false }} />
    </Stack>
  );
}

Tab Layout

// app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
import { Tabs } from "expo-router";
import MaterialIcons from "@expo/vector-icons/MaterialIcons";

export default function TabLayout() {
  return (
    <Tabs screenOptions={{ headerShown: false }}>
      <Tabs.Screen
        name="index"
        options={{
          title: "Home",
          tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => (
            <MaterialIcons size={28} name="home" color={color} />
          ),
        }}
      />
      <Tabs.Screen name="feed" options={{ title: "Feed" }} />
      <Tabs.Screen name="settings" options={{ title: "Settings" }} />
    </Tabs>
  );
}

Protected Routes (SDK 53+)

// app/_layout.tsx
import { Stack } from "expo-router";
import { useAuthState } from "@/hooks/useAuthState";

export default function RootLayout() {
  const { isLoggedIn } = useAuthState();

  return (
    <Stack>
      <Stack.Protected guard={isLoggedIn}>
        <Stack.Screen name="(tabs)" />
        <Stack.Screen name="modal" options={{ presentation: "modal" }} />
      </Stack.Protected>

      <Stack.Protected guard={!isLoggedIn}>
        <Stack.Screen name="sign-in" />
        <Stack.Screen name="create-account" />
      </Stack.Protected>
    </Stack>
  );
}

Navigation Patterns

Declarative Navigation (Preferred)

import { Link } from "expo-router";

// Basic link
<Link href="/about">About</Link>

// With custom component
<Link href="/profile" asChild>
  <Pressable>
    <Text>Profile</Text>
  </Pressable>
</Link>

// Dynamic route
<Link href={{ pathname: "/user/[id]", params: { id: "123" } }}>
  View User
</Link>

// With prefetching
<Link href="/heavy-page" prefetch>Heavy Page</Link>

Imperative Navigation

import { useRouter } from "expo-router";

export default function Component() {
  const router = useRouter();

  const handleNavigate = () => {
    // Navigate (adds to history)
    router.navigate("/about");

    // Push (always adds to stack)
    router.push("/details");

    // Replace (no back navigation)
    router.replace("/home");

    // Back
    router.back();

    // Dynamic route
    router.navigate({
      pathname: "/user/[id]",
      params: { id: "123" },
    });
  };

  return <Button onPress={handleNavigate} title="Navigate" />;
}

Defensive Navigation Guards

Always validate parameters before navigation to prevent broken URLs.

const handleNavigation = useCallback(() => {
  if (!entityId) {
    console.error("Cannot navigate: entity ID is missing");
    return;
  }
  router.push(`/players/${entityId}`);
}, [entityId, router]);

Reading Route Parameters

import { useLocalSearchParams, useGlobalSearchParams } from "expo-router";

export default function UserPage() {
  // Local params (current route only)
  const { id, tab } = useLocalSearchParams<{ id: string; tab?: string }>();

  // Global params (entire URL)
  const globalParams = useGlobalSearchParams();

  return <Text>User ID: {id}</Text>;
}

Deep Linking

Configure URL Scheme

In app.json or app.config.js:

{
  "expo": {
    "scheme": "myapp"
  }
}

Initial Route for Deep Links

Ensure proper back navigation when deep linking.

// app/feed/_layout.tsx
export const unstable_settings = {
  initialRouteName: "index",
};

export default function FeedLayout() {
  return <Stack />;
}

Deep Link with Anchor

// Forces initial route to load first
<Link href="/feed/post/123" withAnchor>
  View Post
</Link>

Common Patterns

Stacks Inside Tabs

app/
├── (tabs)/
│   ├── _layout.tsx         # Tab navigator
│   ├── index.tsx           # Home tab
│   ├── feed/               # Feed tab with stack
│   │   ├── _layout.tsx     # Stack navigator
│   │   ├── index.tsx       # Feed list
│   │   └── [postId].tsx    # Post detail
│   └── settings.tsx        # Settings tab

Shared Routes Between Tabs

app/
├── (tabs)/
│   ├── _layout.tsx
│   ├── (feed)/             # Feed tab group
│   │   └── index.tsx
│   ├── (search)/           # Search tab group
│   │   └── index.tsx
│   └── (feed,search)/      # Shared between both
│       └── users/
│           └── [userId].tsx

Modal Routes

// app/_layout.tsx
<Stack>
  <Stack.Screen name="(tabs)" options={{ headerShown: false }} />
  <Stack.Screen
    name="modal"
    options={{
      presentation: "modal",
      animation: "slide_from_bottom",
    }}
  />
</Stack>

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

1. Business Logic in Route Files

Route files should only import and render feature components.

2. Deeply Nested Navigators

Avoid nesting stacks within stacks unnecessarily. Use route groups instead.

3. Missing initialRouteName

Always set initialRouteName in stack layouts for proper deep link behavior.

4. Hardcoded Navigation Paths

Use typed routes or constants instead of string literals.

// AVOID
router.push("/players/123/compare");

// PREFER
router.push({
  pathname: "/players/[playerId]/compare",
  params: { playerId: "123" },
});

5. Using window APIs Without Platform Checks

// AVOID
const width = window.innerWidth;

// PREFER
import { useWindowDimensions } from "react-native";
const { width } = useWindowDimensions();

Resources

For detailed documentation on specific topics, refer to:

• references/official-docs.md - Condensed official Expo Router documentation
• scripts/generate-route.py - Route scaffolding script

Official Documentation: https://docs.expo.dev/router/introduction/