React Native Navigation Skill

Learn production-ready navigation patterns using React Navigation v6+ and Expo Router.

Prerequisites

• React Native basics (components, styling)
• TypeScript fundamentals
• Understanding of React context

Learning Objectives

After completing this skill, you will be able to:

• Set up React Navigation with TypeScript
• Implement Stack, Tab, and Drawer navigators
• Configure deep linking and universal links
• Handle authentication flows
• Pass params between screens type-safely

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Topics Covered

1. Installation

npm install @react-navigation/native @react-navigation/native-stack
npm install react-native-screens react-native-safe-area-context

# For tabs
npm install @react-navigation/bottom-tabs

# For drawers
npm install @react-navigation/drawer react-native-gesture-handler react-native-reanimated

2. Stack Navigator

import { createNativeStackNavigator } from '@react-navigation/native-stack';

type RootStackParamList = {
  Home: undefined;
  Details: { id: string };
};

const Stack = createNativeStackNavigator<RootStackParamList>();

function RootNavigator() {
  return (
    <Stack.Navigator>
      <Stack.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />
      <Stack.Screen name="Details" component={DetailsScreen} />
    </Stack.Navigator>
  );
}

3. Tab Navigator

import { createBottomTabNavigator } from '@react-navigation/bottom-tabs';

const Tab = createBottomTabNavigator();

function MainTabs() {
  return (
    <Tab.Navigator>
      <Tab.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />
      <Tab.Screen name="Profile" component={ProfileScreen} />
    </Tab.Navigator>
  );
}

4. Deep Linking

const linking = {
  prefixes: ['myapp://', 'https://myapp.com'],
  config: {
    screens: {
      Home: 'home',
      Details: 'details/:id',
    },
  },
};

<NavigationContainer linking={linking}>
  {/* navigators */}
</NavigationContainer>

5. Type-Safe Navigation

import { useNavigation } from '@react-navigation/native';
import type { NativeStackNavigationProp } from '@react-navigation/native-stack';

type NavigationProp = NativeStackNavigationProp<RootStackParamList>;

function HomeScreen() {
  const navigation = useNavigation<NavigationProp>();

  return (
    <Button
      title="Go to Details"
      onPress={() => navigation.navigate('Details', { id: '123' })}
    />
  );
}

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Quick Start Example

import { NavigationContainer } from '@react-navigation/native';
import { createNativeStackNavigator } from '@react-navigation/native-stack';

type RootStackParamList = {
  Home: undefined;
  Details: { id: string; title: string };
};

const Stack = createNativeStackNavigator<RootStackParamList>();

export default function App() {
  return (
    <NavigationContainer>
      <Stack.Navigator>
        <Stack.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />
        <Stack.Screen name="Details" component={DetailsScreen} />
      </Stack.Navigator>
    </NavigationContainer>
  );
}

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Common Errors & Solutions

Error	Cause	Solution
"Navigator not found"	Missing NavigationContainer	Wrap app in NavigationContainer
Params undefined	Type mismatch	Check ParamList types
Deep link not working	Config mismatch	Verify linking paths

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Validation Checklist

• Navigation works on both platforms
• Deep links open correct screens
• TypeScript catches param errors
• Auth flow protects routes

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Usage

Skill("react-native-navigation")

Bonded Agent: 02-react-native-navigation