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Layout Routes

Layout routes (also called “pathless routes”) are routes that provide shared UI structure for child routes without adding segments to the URL. They’re perfect for shared navigation, authentication layouts, and grouping routes with common UI.

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Basic Layout Routes

Use the layout() helper to create a layout route: 
// app/routes.ts
import { layout, route } from "@react-router/dev/routes";

export default [
  layout("routes/app-layout.tsx", [
    route("dashboard", "routes/dashboard.tsx"),
    route("profile", "routes/profile.tsx"),
    route("settings", "routes/settings.tsx"),
  ]),
];
URL structure:
  • /dashboard → renders app-layout.tsx with dashboard.tsx in the outlet
  • /profile → renders app-layout.tsx with profile.tsx in the outlet
  • /settings → renders app-layout.tsx with settings.tsx in the outlet
No /app-layout URL is created.

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Layout Component

Layout routes must render an <Outlet /> for child routes: 
// app/routes/app-layout.tsx
import { Outlet, Link } from "react-router";

export default function AppLayout() {
  return (
    <div className="app">
      <header>
        <nav>
          <Link to="/dashboard">Dashboard</Link>
          <Link to="/profile">Profile</Link>
          <Link to="/settings">Settings</Link>
        </nav>
      </header>
      
      <main>
        <Outlet />
      </main>
      
      <footer>
        <p>&copy; 2024 My App</p>
      </footer>
    </div>
  );
}

​
Multiple Layout Routes

Create different layouts for different sections of your app: 
// app/routes.ts
import { layout, route, index } from "@react-router/dev/routes";

export default [
  // Marketing layout
  layout("routes/marketing-layout.tsx", [
    index("routes/home.tsx"),
    route("about", "routes/about.tsx"),
    route("pricing", "routes/pricing.tsx"),
    route("contact", "routes/contact.tsx"),
  ]),
  
  // App layout
  layout("routes/app-layout.tsx", [
    route("dashboard", "routes/dashboard.tsx"),
    route("projects", "routes/projects.tsx"),
    route("team", "routes/team.tsx"),
  ]),
  
  // Auth layout
  layout("routes/auth-layout.tsx", [
    route("login", "routes/login.tsx"),
    route("signup", "routes/signup.tsx"),
    route("reset-password", "routes/reset-password.tsx"),
  ]),
];

​
Nested Layout Routes

Layout routes can be nested for hierarchical UI structures: 
// app/routes.ts
import { layout, route } from "@react-router/dev/routes";

export default [
  layout("routes/app-layout.tsx", [
    route("account", "routes/account/layout.tsx", [
      route("profile", "routes/account/profile.tsx"),
      route("billing", "routes/account/billing.tsx"),
      route("security", "routes/account/security.tsx"),
    ]),
  ]),
];
URL /account/profile renders:
  1. app-layout.tsx
  2. → account/layout.tsx (in first outlet)
  3. → → account/profile.tsx (in second outlet)

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File-Based Layout Routes

When using flatRoutes(), prefix route names with _ to create layout routes: 
app/routes/
├── _marketing.tsx                   # Marketing layout (no URL)
├── _marketing._index.tsx            # /
├── _marketing.about.tsx             # /about
├── _marketing.pricing.tsx           # /pricing
├── _app.tsx                         # App layout (no URL)
├── _app.dashboard.tsx               # /dashboard
└── _app.settings.tsx                # /settings
The leading _ indicates a pathless layout route.

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Layout with Shared Data

Load shared data in layout routes: 
// app/routes/app-layout.tsx
import { Outlet } from "react-router";
import type { Route } from "./+types/app-layout";

export async function loader({ request }: Route.LoaderArgs) {
  const user = await getUser(request);
  const notifications = await getNotifications(user.id);
  
  return { user, notifications };
}

export default function AppLayout({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
  return (
    <div>
      <header>
        <p>Welcome, {loaderData.user.name}</p>
        <span>{loaderData.notifications.length} notifications</span>
      </header>
      <Outlet />
    </div>
  );
}
Child routes can access this data with useMatches(): 
// app/routes/dashboard.tsx
import { useMatches } from "react-router";

export default function Dashboard() {
  const matches = useMatches();
  const layoutData = matches.find(m => m.id === "routes/app-layout")?.data;
  
  return <h1>Hello, {layoutData.user.name}</h1>;
}

​
Authentication Layout

Protect routes with an auth layout: 
// app/routes/auth-required.tsx
import { Outlet, redirect } from "react-router";
import type { Route } from "./+types/auth-required";

export async function loader({ request }: Route.LoaderArgs) {
  const user = await getUser(request);
  
  if (!user) {
    throw redirect("/login");
  }
  
  return { user };
}

export default function AuthRequired({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
  return <Outlet context={{ user: loaderData.user }} />;
}

// app/routes.ts
import { layout, route } from "@react-router/dev/routes";

export default [
  layout("routes/auth-required.tsx", [
    route("dashboard", "routes/dashboard.tsx"),
    route("profile", "routes/profile.tsx"),
  ]),
  
  // Public routes
  route("login", "routes/login.tsx"),
  route("signup", "routes/signup.tsx"),
];

​
Layout with Context

Pass data to child routes via outlet context: 
// app/routes/app-layout.tsx
import { Outlet } from "react-router";
import type { Route } from "./+types/app-layout";

export async function loader({ request }: Route.LoaderArgs) {
  const user = await getUser(request);
  return { user };
}

export default function AppLayout({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
  return (
    <div>
      <Outlet context={{ user: loaderData.user }} />
    </div>
  );
}

// app/routes/dashboard.tsx
import { useOutletContext } from "react-router";

interface OutletContext {
  user: { name: string; id: string };
}

export default function Dashboard() {
  const { user } = useOutletContext<OutletContext>();
  return <h1>Welcome, {user.name}</h1>;
}

​
Conditional Layouts

Apply different layouts based on conditions: 
// app/routes/conditional-layout.tsx
import { Outlet } from "react-router";
import type { Route } from "./+types/conditional-layout";

export async function loader({ request }: Route.LoaderArgs) {
  const user = await getUser(request);
  return { user };
}

export default function ConditionalLayout({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
  if (loaderData.user.role === "admin") {
    return (
      <div className="admin-layout">
        <AdminSidebar />
        <Outlet />
      </div>
    );
  }
  
  return (
    <div className="user-layout">
      <UserSidebar />
      <Outlet />
    </div>
  );
}

​
Pathless Routes with Paths

Combine layout routes with path-based parent routes: 
// app/routes.ts
import { layout, route } from "@react-router/dev/routes";

export default [
  route("account", "routes/account.tsx", [
    // Public account routes
    layout("routes/account/public-layout.tsx", [
      route("login", "routes/account/login.tsx"),
      route("signup", "routes/account/signup.tsx"),
    ]),
    // Private account routes
    layout("routes/account/private-layout.tsx", [
      route("profile", "routes/account/profile.tsx"),
      route("settings", "routes/account/settings.tsx"),
    ]),
  ]),
];
URLs:
  • /account/login → account.tsx > public-layout.tsx > login.tsx
  • /account/profile → account.tsx > private-layout.tsx > profile.tsx

​
Layout Error Boundaries

Handle errors in layout routes: 
// app/routes/app-layout.tsx
import { Outlet, useRouteError, isRouteErrorResponse } from "react-router";

export function ErrorBoundary() {
  const error = useRouteError();
  
  return (
    <div className="error-layout">
      <h1>Application Error</h1>
      {isRouteErrorResponse(error) ? (
        <p>{error.status} {error.statusText}</p>
      ) : (
        <p>An unexpected error occurred</p>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

export default function AppLayout() {
  return (
    <div>
      <header>My App</header>
      <Outlet />
    </div>
  );
}

​
Layout Actions

Handle form submissions in layouts: 
// app/routes/app-layout.tsx
import { Outlet, Form } from "react-router";
import type { Route } from "./+types/app-layout";

export async function action({ request }: Route.ActionArgs) {
  const formData = await request.formData();
  const theme = formData.get("theme");
  
  await setUserTheme(theme);
  
  return { success: true };
}

export default function AppLayout() {
  return (
    <div>
      <header>
        <Form method="post">
          <select name="theme">
            <option value="light">Light</option>
            <option value="dark">Dark</option>
          </select>
          <button type="submit">Change Theme</button>
        </Form>
      </header>
      <Outlet />
    </div>
  );
}

​
Common Patterns

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Marketing + App Split

layout("routes/marketing.tsx", [
  index("routes/home.tsx"),
  route("features", "routes/features.tsx"),
]),
layout("routes/app.tsx", [
  route("dashboard", "routes/dashboard.tsx"),
])

​
Role-Based Layouts

layout("routes/admin-layout.tsx", [
  route("admin/users", "routes/admin/users.tsx"),
  route("admin/settings", "routes/admin/settings.tsx"),
]),
layout("routes/user-layout.tsx", [
  route("dashboard", "routes/dashboard.tsx"),
])

​
Multi-Step Forms

route("onboarding", "routes/onboarding/layout.tsx", [
  route("step-1", "routes/onboarding/step-1.tsx"),
  route("step-2", "routes/onboarding/step-2.tsx"),
  route("step-3", "routes/onboarding/step-3.tsx"),
])

​
Best Practices

  1. Shared UI only: Use layouts for shared UI elements (nav, header, footer)
  2. Minimal data loading: Only load data needed by the layout itself
  3. Clear naming: Name layout files descriptively (e.g., app-layout.tsx, auth-layout.tsx)
  4. Error boundaries: Add error boundaries to layouts for better error handling
  5. Avoid deep nesting: Keep layout nesting to 2-3 levels maximum
  6. Context over props: Use outlet context for passing data to all children

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