# tanstack-router-best-practices

A rule set for TanStack Router in React: type safety, data loading, search params, navigation. Useful once routing in a project grows past a few pages.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 7100 installs · ★ 228
- Author: DeckardGer
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tanstack-router-best-practices

## What it does

The skill splits its rules into priority tiers. Type safety and route organization come first, then router config, data loading, search params and error handling, with navigation, code splitting, preloading and route context below. Rules carry prefixes like `ts-`, `load-`, `search-` and `nav-`.

Every rule lives in its own file under `rules/`. The format repeats: why the pattern matters, a bad example, a good example, and a note on when to apply or skip it. Your agent pulls the relevant file while you set up routes, wire loaders or untangle URL state.

This targets React apps that already use TanStack Router. Several data-loading rules assume TanStack Query — `queryOptions` inside loaders, `ensureQueryData`. No Query in the project? Skip those entries, the rest stands on its own.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --skill tanstack-router-best-practices -a claude-code
```
```bash
npx skills add DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --skill tanstack-router -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/tanstack-router/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --skill tanstack-router -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --skill tanstack-router -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills tanstack-router
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --skill tanstack-router -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --path skills/tanstack-router
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills --skill tanstack-router -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/DeckardGer/tanstack-agent-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tanstack-router/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- register the router type for global inference
- lay out routes as files and nested levels
- set up loaders and cache control with `loaderDeps`
- validate search params and give them defaults
- split critical data from the rest in a loader

## Example prompts
- Set up file-based routing in TanStack Router following the skill rules
- Check my loaders — am I using `loaderDeps` and `ensureQueryData` correctly?
- Walk through the search params on this route and add validation plus defaults

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

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BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE fe66816857263281
```text
---
name: tanstack-router-best-practices
description: TanStack Router best practices for type-safe routing, data loading, search params, and navigation. Activate when building React applications with complex routing needs.
---

# TanStack Router Best Practices

Comprehensive guidelines for implementing TanStack Router patterns in React applications. These rules optimize type safety, data loading, navigation, and code organization.

## When to Apply

- Setting up application routing
- Creating new routes and layouts
- Implementing search parameter handling
- Configuring data loaders
- Setting up code splitting
- Integrating with TanStack Query
- Refactoring navigation patterns

## Rule Categories by Priority

| Priority | Category | Rules | Impact |
|----------|----------|-------|--------|
| CRITICAL | Type Safety | 4 rules | Prevents runtime errors and enables refactoring |
| CRITICAL | Route Organization | 5 rules | Ensures maintainable route structure |
| HIGH | Router Config | 1 rule | Global router defaults |
| HIGH | Data Loading | 6 rules | Optimizes data fetching and caching |
| HIGH | Search Params | 5 rules | Enables type-safe URL state |
| HIGH | Error Handling | 1 rule | Handles 404 and errors gracefully |
| MEDIUM | Navigation | 5 rules | Improves UX and accessibility |
| MEDIUM | Code Splitting | 3 rules | Reduces bundle size |
| MEDIUM | Preloading | 3 rules | Improves perceived performance |
| LOW | Route Context | 3 rules | Enables dependency injection |

## Quick Reference

### Type Safety (Prefix: `ts-`)

- `ts-register-router` — Register router type for global inference
- `ts-use-from-param` — Use `from` parameter for type narrowing
- `ts-route-context-typing` — Type route context with createRootRouteWithContext
- `ts-query-options-loader` — Use queryOptions in loaders for type inference

### Router Config (Prefix: `router-`)

- `router-default-options` — Configure router defaults (scrollRestoration, defaultErrorComponent, etc.)

### Route Organization (Prefix: `org-`)

- `org-file-based-routing` — Prefer file-based routing for conventions
- `org-route-tree-structure` — Follow hierarchical route tree patterns
- `org-pathless-layouts` — Use pathless routes for shared layouts
- `org-index-routes` — Understand index vs layout routes
- `org-virtual-routes` — Understand virtual file routes

### Data Loading (Prefix: `load-`)

- `load-use-loaders` — Use route loaders for data fetching
- `load-loader-deps` — Define loaderDeps for cache control
- `load-ensure-query-data` — Use ensureQueryData with TanStack Query
- `load-deferred-data` — Split critical and non-critical data
```
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