whatisgithub

What is react-navigation?

gaearon/react-navigation — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-17 · repo last pushed 2025-01-02

★ 6Audience · developerComplexity · 2/5StaleSetup · moderate

In one sentence

The standard library for handling screen transitions in React Native apps, offering tabs, drawers, and stack navigation.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Handles screen transitions
      Bottom tabs and drawers
      Stack of screens
    Tech stack
      React Native
      Modular packages
    Use cases
      Startup MVPs
      Production iOS and Android apps
      Instagram style tab bars
    Audience
      React Native developers
      Mobile app teams
    Maturity
      Seven major versions
      Well documented

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build a bottom tab bar navigation like Instagram's Home, Explore, and Profile sections.

USE CASE 2

Add a stack of screens where each new screen slides in on top of the previous one.

USE CASE 3

Create a side drawer menu that slides out for app navigation.

USE CASE 4

Ship a production React Native app to iOS and Android with reliable, well-tested navigation.

What is it built with?

React NativeJavaScript

How does it compare?

gaearon/react-navigationabderazak-py/retro-homepageaclark4life/home-depot-crawl
Stars666
Language—HTMLPython
Last pushed2025-01-02—2014-08-10
MaintenanceStale—Dormant
Setup difficultymoderateeasymoderate
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperops devopsdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Modular packages mean you must install only the specific navigation pieces your app needs.

No license information is mentioned in the explanation.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me set up bottom tab navigation in my React Native app using React Navigation.
Prompt 2
Show me how to add a stack navigator so screens slide in and out properly.
Prompt 3
Explain which React Navigation packages I need for a simple app versus a complex one.
Prompt 4
Help me add a side drawer menu to my React Native app with React Navigation.
Prompt 5
How do I upgrade my app from an older React Navigation version to the latest one?

Frequently asked questions

What is react-navigation?

The standard library for handling screen transitions in React Native apps, offering tabs, drawers, and stack navigation.

Is react-navigation actively maintained?

Stale — no commits in 1-2 years (last push 2025-01-02).

What license does react-navigation use?

No license information is mentioned in the explanation.

How hard is react-navigation to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is react-navigation for?

Mainly developer.

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