Navigating Home: A Conflict Resolution Guide in React Router and Module Federation

Module Federation allows us to build micro-frontends in React, fostering modularity and independent development. However, integrating routing between the container application and child applications can introduce conflicts, especially when navigating to the “home” route. This article explores this conflict and provides solutions to achieve seamless navigation.

Understanding the Conflict

The conflict arises because both the container app and child apps might define routes for the path “/”. When a user tries to navigate to “home,” it’s unclear which application’s home route should be triggered.

Here’s a breakdown of the scenarios:

• Standalone Child App: When the child app runs independently, navigating to “/” within the child app itself works as expected, directing the user to the child app’s home page.
• Child App in Container: When the child app is integrated into the container app, navigating to “/” might redirect to the container app’s home page instead of the child app’s intended home. This disrupts the expected user flow.

Resolving the Conflict

Several approaches can address this conflict and ensure proper navigation to the child app’s home route:

1. Leveraging useRoutes and Route Nesting:

• Child App Router Configuration:

  Define child app routes using useRoutes and nest them within a route with a path matching the container app’s base path (usually “/”). This ensures child app routes are only rendered when the container app’s base path is accessed.

  JavaScript

  import { useRoutes } from 'react-router-dom';
  
  export const routes = [
    { path: '/', element: <HomePage /> }, // Child app's home route
    // Other child app routes
  ];
  
  const App: React.FC = () => {
    const appRoutes = useRoutes(routes);
    return appRoutes;
  };
  

• Container App Router Configuration:

  The container app should not define a route for “/”. Instead, it should render the child app using a component that utilizes useRoutes with the child app’s routes.

  JavaScript

  import { Outlet } from 'react-router-dom';
  import ChildApp from './ChildApp'; // Import child app
  
  const App: React.FC = () => {
    return (
      <div>
        <Navigation /> {/* Container app navigation (optional) */}
        <Outlet /> {/* Renders child app's routes */}
      </div>
    );
  };
  

2. Utilizing a Shared Home Route Component:

• Create a separate component for the “home” page that can be shared between the container and child apps. This component can handle logic for determining which app’s home content to render based on the current application context.
• This approach promotes code reuse and simplifies navigation handling.

3. Custom Navigation Hooks with Context:

• Develop custom navigation hooks that leverage React Context to provide information about the current application context (container or child).
• Use these hooks within navigation components to conditionally render the appropriate home route based on the context.

Choosing the Right Approach:

The best approach depends on your application’s structure and preferences.

• useRoutes and Route Nesting: This is a straightforward and widely used technique.
• Shared Home Route Component: Ideal for code reuse and centralized home logic.
• Custom Navigation Hooks: Offers more flexibility for complex navigation scenarios.

By understanding the conflict between React Router and Module Federation during home navigation and implementing one of the provided solutions, you can ensure a seamless user experience within your micro-frontend architecture. Remember to choose the approach that best aligns with your project’s specific needs and maintainability considerations.