Скачать или смотреть How to Fix the Active State of Navigation Links in React Router Dom

Learn how to ensure that only the current navigation link is active in React Router Dom when transitioning between routes. Follow our guide for easy implementation!
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How to Fix the Active State of Navigation Links in React Router Dom

Navigating between different routes in a React application using react-router-dom can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior, especially when it comes to the active states of your navigation links. If you have two navigation buttons, like "Runs" and "Input," and find that the first button remains active even when you switch to the second, you might be facing a common issue.

In this guide, we will explore the reasons behind this problem and provide a clear, step-by-step solution. Let's dive in!

Understanding the Problem

Consider a scenario where you have two navigation links:

A Runs button

An Input button

Your intention is to have only one of these buttons active at any time, depending on which section you are currently in. However, even after you navigate to the Input section, the Runs button remains highlighted, indicating that it is still active.

This happens because react-router-dom treats both routes as similar when they share the same base path. In your case:

/tasks/${task}

/tasks/${task}/input

Since the first path is a base of the second, without proper adjustments, both links could appear highlighted.

The Solution

To rectify this behavior, you'll need to specify that the Runs button should only be considered active when you are strictly at that path. You can achieve this by adding the exact attribute to your NavLink for the Runs button.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Import NavLink: Ensure you have imported the NavLink from react-router-dom in your component.

Add the exact Attribute: Modify your NavLink for the Runs button to include the exact attribute. This will ensure that the Runs button is only active at the exact path and not for any routes that extend it.

Here’s the updated code for your navigation tabs:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code

exact: This is the key part. By using this prop, you tell the NavLink to only apply the active styles when the current location matches the path exactly.

activeStyle: Here you define the styling that indicates an active state for the link.

Benefits of This Approach

Clear Navigation: Users will have a better experience as they will clearly see which section they are currently in.

Avoids Confusion: Minimizing the chances of users feeling disoriented by having the incorrect link highlighted.

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your navigation links behave as intended using react-router-dom. This small change can significantly impact your app's usability and user experience.

If you have any further questions regarding React Router Dom or other React functionalities, feel free to leave a comment below!