Client-side routing concept in React - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to import the main routing component from React Router.

React

import { [1] } from 'react-router-dom';

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ARouter

BRoute

CBrowserRouter

DLink

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using Route instead of BrowserRouter for wrapping the app.

Importing Link when you need the router component.

The BrowserRouter component is the main router that uses the browser's history API for client-side routing.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to define a route for the home page path '/' with the Home component.

React

<Route path='[1]' element={<Home />} />

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A/

B/home

C/index

D/main

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '/home' instead of '/' for the home page.

Confusing '/index' with the root path.

The root path '/' represents the home page in routing.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to navigate programmatically using the hook.

React

const navigate = [1]();

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AuseRouter

BuseRoute

CuseHistory

DuseNavigate

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using useHistory which is deprecated in React Router v6.

Using useRoute or useRouter which do not exist.

The useNavigate hook returns a function to change routes programmatically in React Router v6+.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a link to the about page with accessible text.

React

<Link to=[1] aria-label=[2]>About Us</Link>

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A"/about"

B"Go to About page"

C"/contact"

D"Navigate to contact page"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong path in the to prop.

Not providing an aria-label or using unclear text.

The to prop should point to the about page path "/about". The aria-label provides descriptive text for screen readers, here "Go to About page".

5fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a routes setup with home and profile paths.

React

<Routes>
  <Route path=[1] element={<Home />} />
  <Route path=[2] element={<Profile />} />
  <Route path='*' element={<NotFound />} />
</Routes>

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A"/"

B"/profile"

C"/user"

D"/home"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up profile path with '/user'.

Using '/home' instead of '/' for the home route.

The home page path is "/", the profile page is "/profile". The wildcard '*' catches all other paths. The option "user" is a distractor here and not used in correct answers.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of client-side routing in a React application?

easy

A. To handle server-side rendering only

B. To reload the whole page when navigating

C. To change views without reloading the entire page

D. To manage database connections

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand client-side routing

   Client-side routing allows changing the visible content without refreshing the whole page, making navigation faster and smoother.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Options B, C, and D describe behaviors unrelated to client-side routing in React.

3. Final Answer:

   To change views without reloading the entire page -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Client-side routing = change views without reload [OK]

Hint: Client-side routing avoids full page reloads [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing client-side routing with server-side rendering
• Thinking navigation always reloads the page
• Assuming routing manages backend tasks

2. Which of the following is the correct way to import components for client-side routing in React?

easy

A. import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom';

B. import { Router, RouteList, Route } from 'react-router';

C. import { BrowserRouter, Route, Link } from 'react-router';

D. import { Router, Routes, Link } from 'react-router-dom';

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct package and components

   The official React routing library is 'react-router-dom' and the main components are BrowserRouter, Routes, and Route.

2. Step 2: Check each import statement

   Only import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom'; correctly imports BrowserRouter, Routes, and Route from 'react-router-dom'. Others use incorrect component names or wrong packages.

3. Final Answer:

   import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom'; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct import = import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom'; [OK]

Hint: Remember 'react-router-dom' exports BrowserRouter, Routes, Route [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'react-router' instead of 'react-router-dom'
• Mixing component names like Router instead of BrowserRouter
• Forgetting to import Routes component

3. Given this React routing code snippet, what will be displayed when the URL path is /about?

import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom';

function App() {
  return (
    
      
        Home} />
        About Us} />
        Contact} />
      
    
  );
}

medium

A. Home

B. About Us

C. Contact

D. Nothing will be displayed

Solution

1. Step 1: Match URL path to Route path

   The URL path '/about' matches the Route with path='/about'.

2. Step 2: Identify the element rendered

   The Route for '/about' renders <h1>About Us</h1>.

3. Final Answer:

   <h1>About Us</h1> -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Path '/about' renders About Us [OK]

Hint: Match URL path exactly to Route path [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing the home route for all paths
• Confusing element props with children
• Assuming multiple routes render simultaneously

4. Identify the error in this React routing setup:

import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom';

function App() {
  return (
    <BrowserRouter>
      <Route path='/' element={} />
      <Routes>
        <Route path='/about' element={} />
      </Routes>
    </BrowserRouter>
  );
}

medium

A. Route components must be inside Routes component

B. BrowserRouter cannot wrap Routes

C. Route elements cannot use JSX components

D. Missing import for Home and About components

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Route placement

   All Route components must be children of a Routes component to work correctly.

2. Step 2: Identify the misplaced Route

   The Route with path='/' is outside the Routes component, which is incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   Route components must be inside Routes component -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Routes wrap Route components [OK]

Hint: Always nest Route inside Routes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing Route outside Routes component
• Thinking BrowserRouter cannot wrap Routes
• Confusing JSX elements with strings in element prop

5. You want to create a navigation menu that updates the URL and shows the correct page without reloading. Which React Router component should you use for the links?

hard

A. <a> tags with href attribute

B. <button> with onClick calling window.location

C. <NavLink> component but without BrowserRouter

D. <Link> component from react-router-dom

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand navigation in React Router

   The <Link> component updates the URL and renders the new route without reloading the page.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for SPA navigation

   <a> tags with href attribute causes full page reloads. <button> with onClick calling window.location uses window.location which reloads. <NavLink> component but without BrowserRouter requires BrowserRouter to work properly.

3. Final Answer:

   <Link> component from react-router-dom -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use Link for client-side navigation [OK]

Hint: Use Link, not anchor tags, for SPA navigation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using <a> tags causing full page reload
• Forgetting BrowserRouter wrapper for NavLink
• Using buttons with window.location causing reload