Source: https://tanstack.com/blog/why-tanstack-start-and-router

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Why choose TanStack Start and Router?

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by Tanner Linsley on Dec 03, 2024.

Building modern web applications is no small feat. The frameworks and tools we choose can make or break not only our developer experience but also the success of the applications we build. While there are many great frameworks out there, I believe TanStack Router and TanStack Start stand apart for their ability to solve the challenges developers face today and their readiness for what’s coming tomorrow.

These aren’t just another set of tools—they represent a commitment to building better apps with less friction and more joy. Here’s why I think you’ll love working with them as much as I do.

### Type Safety You Can Rely On

Type safety isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a foundational tool for creating robust, maintainable applications. TanStack Router goes beyond the basics to offer contextual type safety, where types flow seamlessly through every part of your app. Route definitions, parameters, navigation, and even state management all work together with fully inferred types.

What does this mean for you? It means no more guessing if you’ve defined a parameter correctly, no more debugging mismatched types, and no need for extra plugins or AST transformations to fill in the gaps. TanStack Router works with TypeScript’s natural architecture, making the experience smooth, predictable, and delightful.

This level of type safety doesn’t just save time—it builds confidence. And it’s something I believe other frameworks will spend years trying to catch up to.

### Unlock the Power of URL State Management

One of the most overlooked but powerful tools in web development is the URL. It’s the original state management system—fast, shareable, and intuitive. Yet, many frameworks treat the URL as an afterthought, offering only basic utilities for reading and writing state.

TanStack Router flips that script. Managing state in the URL isn’t just supported—it’s encouraged. With intuitive APIs, you can validate, read, and update search parameters with type safety and runtime validation baked in. Want to create a deeply nested, dynamic filter system or synchronize your app’s state with the URL? It’s effortless.

But this isn’t just about developer convenience—it’s about creating better user experiences. When your app state lives in the URL, users can share it, bookmark it, and pick up right where they left off. TanStack Router makes that as easy as it should be.

### Familiar Patterns, More Flexibility

If you’ve worked with Remix or Next.js, you’ll find plenty of familiar concepts in TanStack Start. But familiarity doesn’t mean compromise. We’ve taken some of the best ideas from those frameworks and pushed them further, stripping away the constraints and introducing more flexibility.

For example, routing patterns and server function integrations will feel natural if you’re coming from a server-first framework like Remix, but they’re designed to work just as well for traditional client-side SPAs. You don’t have to pick a side—you get the best of both worlds, with fewer trade-offs.

### Built for the Future (and Already Embracing It)

The web is changing fast. With React Server Components (RSCs) on the horizon, React 19 introducing new patterns, and streaming becoming the standard for data delivery, frameworks need to do more than just keep up—they need to lead.

TanStack Start is ready for what’s next. RSCs are treated as another server-side state, with powerful primitives for caching, invalidating, and composing them into your application. Streaming isn’t an afterthought—it’s baked into the core of how TanStack works, giving you tools to incrementally send data and HTML to the client without extra complexity.

But we’re not just about future-proofing. TanStack Start also makes these advanced capabilities approachable and usable today. You don’t need to wait for the “next big thing” to start building apps that feel like the future.

### SPAs Aren’t Dead (We’re Just Making Them Better)

There’s a lot of talk about server-first architectures these days, and while they’re exciting, they’re not the whole story. Single Page Applications (SPAs) are still an incredible way to build fast, interactive apps—especially when done right.

TanStack Start doesn’t just keep SPAs viable—it makes them better. With simplified patterns, powerful state management, and deep integrations, you can build SPAs that are more performant, easier to maintain, and a joy to use. Whether you’re working server-first, client-first, or somewhere in between, TanStack gives you the tools to build the app you want.

### Data Integration Like No Other

If you’ve used TanStack Query, you already know how much it simplifies data-fetching. But the integration between TanStack Query and TanStack Router is where the magic really happens. Prefetching data, caching results, and streaming updates are all seamless, intuitive, and built to scale.

For example, you can prefetch data in a route loader, stream it down to the client, and hydrate it on demand—all with a single API. Whether you’re managing a simple blog or a complex dashboard, you’ll find yourself spending less time wiring up data and more time building features.

This isn’t just an integration—it’s a partnership between routing and data-fetching that makes everything else feel clunky by comparison.

### Routing That Scales

Routing isn’t just a utility—it’s the backbone of every application. And yet, most routers struggle when things get complex. That’s where TanStack Router shines. It’s built to handle everything from a handful of simple routes to thousands of deeply nested ones without breaking a sweat.

Features like type-safe navigation, hierarchical route contexts, and advanced state synchronization make it easy to build apps that scale in both size and complexity. And because TanStack Router works natively with TypeScript, you get all the benefits of type safety without sacrificing performance or flexibility.

### Always Innovating

What excites me most about TanStack is that we’re just getting started. From isomorphic server functions to powerful caching primitives and streamlined React Server Component support, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Our goal isn’t just to build great tools—it’s to build tools that help you build better apps.

### Settle for “Good Enough”?

Other frameworks have their strengths, but if you’re looking for tools that are innovative, flexible, and deeply integrated, TanStack Router and Start are in a league of their own. They’re not just solving today’s problems—they’re helping you build apps that are ready for tomorrow.

So why wait? Explore TanStack Router and TanStack Start today, and see how much better app development can be.

Let’s build something amazing together!

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