One of the most common features that significantly improve the app’s usability is routing, which enables users to navigate through various parts of a website without reloading the entire page. In modern JavaScript libraries and frameworks like React, routing plays a vital role in building single-page applications (SPAs). When combined with a powerful UI framework like Material UI, you can create visually appealing, user-friendly applications within a React app seamlessly.
In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of setting up React app routing using a Material UI framework.
Overview of React Routing
In React, the React Router library makes implementing routing easy. It enables you to build SPAs with navigation, maintaining the seamless experience of a traditional multi-page application.
React Router dynamically changes the components rendering on your app based on the browser’s URL, making it feel like multiple pages while it’s just one.
Understanding Material UI Framework
Material UI leverages the principles of Material Design to provide versatile, accessible, and customizable components. With it, you can create attractive interfaces that improve user engagement and satisfaction.
Setup Process: Creating React App Routing Using Material UI
Step 1: Setting Up React and Material UI
To begin, create a new React app with Create-React-App using the command npx create-react-app my-app. Next, install Material UI using npm install @material-ui/core.
Step 2: Installing React Router
Once you’ve set up your React app, you’re ready to install the React Router DOM using npm install react-router-dom.
Step 3: Creating Components
Create the files within the Components directory for different parts of your application. For instance, let’s create Home.js, About.js, and Contact.js.
Step 4: Setting up the Router in App.js
Import necessary modules into the App.js file from react-router-dom. These may include BrowserRouter as Router, Route, and Switch.
Step 5: Configuring the Routes
Within the functional component App, wrap your application in the Router component to provide routing functionalities. Use the Switch component to provide exclusive selection from the list of routes.
Each Route component will have a path prop determining the URL to display that route, and a render method specifying which component to render.
Step 6: Creating Links with Material UI
The Link component from react-router-dom enables navigation around the application. You can nest this within Material UI components, such as Button, to bring Material Design aesthetics.
Creating a Navigation Bar with Material UI and Link components can make your website look outstanding and user-friendly.
Conclusion
Combining React app routing with the Material UI framework allows for an incredible union of functionality and aesthetics. It enables the creation of professional, user-friendly, and convenient single-page applications.
You can now integrate routing into your React applications and spruce up your UIs with Material UI confidently. Free yourself from the bounds of pages, and elevate your user experience to new heights. For a more visual walkthrough, here’s a related video. Happy routing and designing!
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