React_Native_Navigation.md

Skill: React Native Navigation

Purpose

To implement robust navigation patterns in React Native applications using Expo Router (recommended) or React Navigation.

When to Use

• When the app has multiple screens.
• When needing tab bars, drawers, or stack navigation (push/pop).
• When handling deep links.

Procedure

Option A: Expo Router (File-based, Modern)

1. Setup: Ensure expo-router is installed.

   npx expo install expo-router react-native-safe-area-context react-native-screens expo-linking expo-constants

2. Structure:
   • app/index.tsx: The home screen.
   • app/_layout.tsx: Defines the layout (Stack/Tabs).
   • app/details/[id].tsx: Dynamic route.
3. Implementation:
   • Use <Stack /> or <Tabs /> in _layout.tsx.
   • Navigate using <Link href="/details/1"> or router.push('/details/1').

Option B: React Navigation (Component-based, Traditional)

1. Install:

   npm install @react_navigation/native @react_navigation/native-stack
   npx expo install react-native-screens react-native-safe-area-context

2. Implementation:

   import { NavigationContainer } from '@react_navigation/native';
   import { createNativeStackNavigator } from '@react_navigation/native-stack';
   
   const Stack = createNativeStackNavigator();
   
   export default function App() {
     return (
       <NavigationContainer>
         <Stack.Navigator>
           <Stack.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />
           <Stack.Screen name="Details" component={DetailsScreen} />
         </Stack.Navigator>
       </NavigationContainer>
     );
   }

Constraints

• Type Safety: Always type routes for useNavigation and useRoute hooks to avoid runtime errors.
• Nesting: Avoid deep nesting of navigators to prevent performance issues and state complexity.

Expected Output

A navigation structure allowing smooth transitions between screens, preserving history and state.