React Router Core vs React Router DOM: Web Navigation Tools

These packages work together to handle webpage navigation in React applications. React Router is the core routing library containing the main routing logic, while React Router DOM adds specific tools for web browsers. Most web developers only need to install react-router-dom, as it includes react-router as a dependency and provides all the necessary browser-specific components.

React NavigationroutingnavigationreactbrowserURL management

Detailed Comparison

Technical Analysis

featureComparison

Both packages provide client-side routing for React applications. react-router provides the core routing functionality, while react-router-dom provides additional DOM-specific features such as Link and NavLink components.

typescriptSupport

Both packages have excellent TypeScript support, with type definitions included in the package.

browserCompatibility

Both packages support modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

dependencies

react-router has no dependencies, while react-router-dom depends on react-router.

performance

Both packages have excellent performance characteristics, with efficient route matching and rendering.

Ecosystem Analysis

frameworkCompatibility

Both packages are compatible with React 16.8 and above.

communityActivity

Both packages have an active community, with frequent updates and bug fixes.

documentationQuality

Both packages have excellent documentation, with clear guides and API references.

maintenanceStatus

Both packages are actively maintained by the React Router team, with regular updates and security patches.

Performance Comparison

bundleSizeAnalysis

react-router-dom has a slightly larger bundle size due to the additional DOM-specific features.

runtimePerformance

Both packages have similar runtime performance characteristics.

loadingTime

Both packages have similar loading times, with react-router-dom being slightly slower due to the additional features.

memoryUsage

Both packages have similar memory usage patterns.

Code Examples

Basic Routing with react-router

1import { BrowserRouter, Route, Link } from 'react-router-dom';
2
3function App() {
4  return (
5    <BrowserRouter>
6      <div>
7        <h1>Home</h1>
8        <p><Link to="/about">Learn more</Link></p>
9      </div>
10      <Route path="/about">
11        <h1>About</h1>
12      </Route>
13    </BrowserRouter>
14  );
15}

This example demonstrates basic routing with react-router-dom, using the BrowserRouter and Route components to define routes and the Link component to create navigation links.

Route Parameters with react-router

1import { BrowserRouter, Route, useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
2
3function User() {
4  let { userId } = useParams();
5  return <h1>Welcome, {userId}!</h1>;
6}
7
8function App() {
9  return (
10    <BrowserRouter>
11      <Route path="/users/:userId">
12        <User />
13      </Route>
14    </BrowserRouter>
15  );
16}

This example demonstrates route parameters with react-router, using the useParams hook to access route parameters and display user-specific data.

Recommendation

Summary

Both packages are excellent choices for client-side routing in React applications. react-router provides a lightweight, flexible routing solution, while react-router-dom provides additional DOM-specific features.

Details

Use react-router for a lightweight, flexible routing solution.
Use react-router-dom for a more comprehensive routing solution with additional DOM-specific features.

Similar Packages

reach/router

95%

A routing library built by the original creator of React Router. Focuses on accessibility and simplicity, with built-in focus management for screen readers.

Very similar to React Router but with better accessibility features built-in. Good for projects where accessibility is a top priority.

React Routing

wouter

90%

A tiny router for React that's simpler than React Router. It has a very small size (1KB) and provides basic routing features like path matching and navigation.

Perfect for small to medium projects where you don't need all of React Router's complex features. It uses a similar API to React Router so it's easy to learn if you know React Router.

React Routing

next/router

70%

The built-in router that comes with Next.js framework. Provides file-system based routing and easy page transitions with zero configuration needed.

Great alternative if you're using Next.js. No need to install additional packages, and it's simpler to use because routing is based on your folder structure.

React Routing

universal-router

60%

A simple middleware-style router that can work with any JavaScript framework, not just React. Supports async routes and nested routes.

Good choice if you want a framework-agnostic router that might work across different projects. Simpler than React Router but still powerful.

JavaScript Routing

No README available

React Router Core vs React Router DOM: Web Navigation Tools

React NavigationroutingnavigationreactbrowserURL management

	Stars	Issues	Version	UpdatedⓘLast publish date	CreatedⓘPackage creation date	SizeⓘMinified + Gzipped size
R react-router	55,425	120	7.8.2	a month ago	11 years ago	install size 57.7 KB
R react-router-dom	55,425	120	7.8.2	a month ago	9 years ago	install size 335 B

Stars

Issues

Version

UpdatedⓘLast publish date

CreatedⓘPackage creation date

SizeⓘMinified + Gzipped size

react-router

55,425

120

7.8.2

a month ago

11 years ago

install size 57.7 KB

react-router-dom

55,425

120

7.8.2

a month ago

9 years ago

install size 335 B

Detailed Comparison

Technical Analysis

featureComparison

typescriptSupport

Both packages have excellent TypeScript support, with type definitions included in the package.

browserCompatibility

Both packages support modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

dependencies

react-router has no dependencies, while react-router-dom depends on react-router.

performance

Both packages have excellent performance characteristics, with efficient route matching and rendering.

Ecosystem Analysis

frameworkCompatibility

Both packages are compatible with React 16.8 and above.

communityActivity

Both packages have an active community, with frequent updates and bug fixes.

documentationQuality

Both packages have excellent documentation, with clear guides and API references.

maintenanceStatus

Both packages are actively maintained by the React Router team, with regular updates and security patches.

Performance Comparison

bundleSizeAnalysis

react-router-dom has a slightly larger bundle size due to the additional DOM-specific features.

runtimePerformance

Both packages have similar runtime performance characteristics.

loadingTime

Both packages have similar loading times, with react-router-dom being slightly slower due to the additional features.

memoryUsage

Both packages have similar memory usage patterns.

Code Examples

Basic Routing with react-router

1import { BrowserRouter, Route, Link } from 'react-router-dom';
2
3function App() {
4  return (
5    <BrowserRouter>
6      <div>
7        <h1>Home</h1>
8        <p><Link to="/about">Learn more</Link></p>
9      </div>
10      <Route path="/about">
11        <h1>About</h1>
12      </Route>
13    </BrowserRouter>
14  );
15}

This example demonstrates basic routing with react-router-dom, using the BrowserRouter and Route components to define routes and the Link component to create navigation links.

Route Parameters with react-router

1import { BrowserRouter, Route, useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
2
3function User() {
4  let { userId } = useParams();
5  return <h1>Welcome, {userId}!</h1>;
6}
7
8function App() {
9  return (
10    <BrowserRouter>
11      <Route path="/users/:userId">
12        <User />
13      </Route>
14    </BrowserRouter>
15  );
16}

This example demonstrates route parameters with react-router, using the useParams hook to access route parameters and display user-specific data.

Recommendation

Summary

Details

Use react-router for a lightweight, flexible routing solution.
Use react-router-dom for a more comprehensive routing solution with additional DOM-specific features.

Similar Packages

reach/router

95%

A routing library built by the original creator of React Router. Focuses on accessibility and simplicity, with built-in focus management for screen readers.

Very similar to React Router but with better accessibility features built-in. Good for projects where accessibility is a top priority.

React Routing

wouter

90%

A tiny router for React that's simpler than React Router. It has a very small size (1KB) and provides basic routing features like path matching and navigation.

Perfect for small to medium projects where you don't need all of React Router's complex features. It uses a similar API to React Router so it's easy to learn if you know React Router.

React Routing

next/router

70%

The built-in router that comes with Next.js framework. Provides file-system based routing and easy page transitions with zero configuration needed.

Great alternative if you're using Next.js. No need to install additional packages, and it's simpler to use because routing is based on your folder structure.

React Routing

universal-router

60%

A simple middleware-style router that can work with any JavaScript framework, not just React. Supports async routes and nested routes.

Good choice if you want a framework-agnostic router that might work across different projects. Simpler than React Router but still powerful.

JavaScript Routing

Dependencies Comparison

react-router

Dependencies

cookie^1.0.1

set-cookie-parser^2.6.0

Dev Dependencies

tsup^8.3.0

react^19.1.0

undici^6.19.2

wireit0.14.9

premove^4.0.0

react-dom^19.1.0

typescript^5.1.6

react-test-renderer^19.1.0

@testing-library/react^16.3.0

jest-environment-jsdom^29.6.2

@types/set-cookie-parser^2.4.1

@testing-library/jest-dom^6.6.3

@testing-library/user-event^14.6.1

Peer Dependencies

react>=18

react-dom>=18

react-router-dom

Dependencies

react-router7.8.2

Dev Dependencies

tsup^8.3.0

react^19.1.0

wireit0.14.9

react-dom^19.1.0

typescript^5.1.6

Peer Dependencies

react>=18

react-dom>=18

React Router Core vs React Router DOM: Web Navigation Tools

Detailed Comparison

Technical Analysis

featureComparison

typescriptSupport

browserCompatibility

dependencies

performance

Ecosystem Analysis

frameworkCompatibility

communityActivity

documentationQuality

maintenanceStatus

Performance Comparison

bundleSizeAnalysis

runtimePerformance

loadingTime

memoryUsage

Code Examples

Basic Routing with react-router

Route Parameters with react-router

Recommendation

Summary

Details

Similar Packages

reach/router

wouter

next/router

universal-router

React Router Core vs React Router DOM: Web Navigation Tools

Detailed Comparison

Technical Analysis

featureComparison

typescriptSupport

browserCompatibility

dependencies

performance

Ecosystem Analysis

frameworkCompatibility

communityActivity

documentationQuality

maintenanceStatus

Performance Comparison

bundleSizeAnalysis

runtimePerformance

loadingTime

memoryUsage

Code Examples

Basic Routing with react-router

Route Parameters with react-router

Recommendation

Summary

Details

Who's Using These Packages

react-router

react-admin

shards-dashboard-react

geoplumber

vertex

react-router-dom

react-admin

shards-dashboard-react

geoplumber

python-tracer

Similar Packages

reach/router

wouter

next/router

universal-router

Dependencies Comparison

react-router

Dependencies

Dev Dependencies

Peer Dependencies

react-router-dom

Dependencies

Dev Dependencies

Peer Dependencies

Dependencies Comparison

react-router