How to programmatically navigate using React Router?

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asked 1 year ago Asked

2 Answers

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With react-router I can use the Link element to create links that are natively handled by react-router.

I see internally it calls this.context.transitionTo(...).

I want to do a navigation. Not from a link, but from a dropdown selection (as an example). How can I do this in code? What is this.context?

I saw the Navigation mixin, but can I do this without mixins?

react

react-router

JavaScript

2 Answers

Emran Anas

- answered 1 year ago

The useHistory() hook is now deprecated. If you are using React Router 6, the proper way to navigate programmatically is as follows:

import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";

function HomeButton() {
  const navigate = useNavigate();

  function handleClick() {
    navigate("/home");
  }

  return (
    <button type="button" onClick={handleClick}>
      Go home
    </button>
  );
}

Emran Anas

- answered 1 year ago

You're on the right track! Here's a breakdown of how to navigate in React Router without using links and how `this.context` fits into the picture.

Understanding React Router Navigation

React Router's core principle is that it takes control of your application's URL and routes based on the URL path. When you use ``, React Router creates a `

` tag under the hood, but it intercepts the click event to prevent the default browser navigation. Instead, it uses its internal `transitionTo` method to update the URL and rerender the appropriate component.

Navigating from a Dropdown Selection

You can mimic this behavior with your dropdown. Here's how you can navigate programmatically:

1. Access the `history` object:

- In React Router v6 and later, you access the `history` object through the `useNavigate` hook. This hook provides you with functions like `push`, `replace`, and `go` for manipulating the URL.

```javascript
import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";

function MyComponent() {
const navigate = useNavigate();

const handleDropdownChange = (event) => {
const selectedRoute = event.target.value; // Get the selected value
navigate(selectedRoute); // Navigate to the selected route
};

return (

);
}
```

2. Understanding `this.context`:

- In earlier React Router versions, `this.context` provided access to the `router` object (which contained the `transitionTo` method). However, in React Router v6 and beyond, `this.context` is no longer used for routing. The `useNavigate` hook is the preferred way to manage navigation.

3. Using the `Navigation` Mixin (Older Versions):

- In React Router v4 and earlier, the `Navigation` mixin was a convenient way to access navigation methods directly within a component. However, using hooks (like `useNavigate`) is generally preferred as it is more explicit and less prone to issues.

Key Points

* Hooks are preferred: In modern React Router, use hooks like `useNavigate` for navigation to ensure you're following best practices.
* Avoid `this.context`: `this.context` is not the recommended approach in React Router v6 and later.

Let me know if you'd like a more detailed explanation of any specific aspect or if you have other React Router navigation scenarios you'd like to explore!

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