Router Plugin (@tanstack/router-plugin)

Bundler plugin that powers TanStack Router's file-based routing and automatic code splitting. Works with Vite, Webpack, Rspack, and esbuild via unplugin.

CRITICAL: The router plugin MUST come before the framework plugin (React, Solid, Vue) in the Vite config. Wrong order causes route generation and code splitting to fail silently.

Install

npm install -D @tanstack/router-plugin

Bundler Setup

Vite (most common)

// vite.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'vite'
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react'
import { tanstackRouter } from '@tanstack/router-plugin/vite'

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [
    // MUST come before react()
    tanstackRouter({
      target: 'react',
      autoCodeSplitting: true,
    }),
    react(),
  ],
})

Webpack

// webpack.config.js
const { tanstackRouter } = require('@tanstack/router-plugin/webpack')

module.exports = {
  plugins: [
    tanstackRouter({
      target: 'react',
      autoCodeSplitting: true,
    }),
  ],
}

Rspack

// rspack.config.js
const { tanstackRouter } = require('@tanstack/router-plugin/rspack')

module.exports = {
  plugins: [
    tanstackRouter({
      target: 'react',
      autoCodeSplitting: true,
    }),
  ],
}

esbuild

import { tanstackRouter } from '@tanstack/router-plugin/esbuild'
import esbuild from 'esbuild'

esbuild.build({
  plugins: [
    tanstackRouter({
      target: 'react',
      autoCodeSplitting: true,
    }),
  ],
})

Configuration Options

Core Options

File Convention Options

Code Splitting Options

tanstackRouter({
  target: 'react',
  autoCodeSplitting: true,
  codeSplittingOptions: {
    // Default groupings for all routes
    defaultBehavior: [['component'], ['errorComponent'], ['notFoundComponent']],

    // Per-route custom splitting
    splitBehavior: ({ routeId }) => {
      if (routeId === '/dashboard') {
        // Keep loader and component together for dashboard
        return [['loader', 'component'], ['errorComponent']]
      }
      // Return undefined to use defaultBehavior
    },
  },
})

Output Options

Virtual Route Config

import { routes } from './routes'

tanstackRouter({
  target: 'react',
  virtualRouteConfig: routes, // or './routes.ts'
})

How It Works

The composed plugin assembles up to 3 sub-plugins:

1. Route Generator (always) — Watches route files and generates routeTree.gen.ts
2. Code Splitter (when autoCodeSplitting: true) — Splits route files into lazy-loaded chunks using virtual modules
3. HMR (dev mode, when code splitter is off) — Hot-reloads route changes without full refresh

Route Refactor Workflow

When moving, renaming, adding, or deleting file routes:

1. Change the source files under routesDirectory. Keep the exported route identifier named Route.
2. Let the bundler plugin regenerate the tree, or run pnpm exec tsr generate when the project uses the CLI.
3. Inspect the generated diff for the expected route IDs, parents, paths, and imports. Never repair routeTree.gen.ts by hand.
4. Update links, redirects, from narrowing, params, preload calls, and tests that reference the old route.
5. Run route-generation tests, type tests, and a production build. A passing editor typecheck does not prove the plugin generated or split the new route correctly.

Commit routeTree.gen.ts; it is generated source used by the application at runtime.

Individual Plugin Exports

For advanced use, each sub-plugin is exported separately from the Vite entry:

import {
  tanstackRouter, // Composed (default)
  tanstackRouterGenerator, // Generator only
  tanStackRouterCodeSplitter, // Code splitter only
} from '@tanstack/router-plugin/vite'

Common Mistakes

1. CRITICAL: Wrong plugin order in Vite config

The router plugin must come before the framework plugin. Otherwise, route generation and code splitting fail silently.

// WRONG — react() before tanstackRouter()
plugins: [react(), tanstackRouter({ target: 'react' })]

// CORRECT — tanstackRouter() first
plugins: [tanstackRouter({ target: 'react' }), react()]

2. HIGH: Missing target option for non-React frameworks

The target defaults to 'react'. For Solid or Vue, you must set it explicitly.

// WRONG for Solid — generates React imports
tanstackRouter({ autoCodeSplitting: true })

// CORRECT for Solid
tanstackRouter({ target: 'solid', autoCodeSplitting: true })

3. MEDIUM: Confusing autoCodeSplitting with manual lazy routes

When autoCodeSplitting is enabled, the plugin handles splitting automatically. You do NOT need manual createLazyRoute or lazyRouteComponent calls — the plugin transforms your route files at build time.

// WRONG — manual lazy loading with autoCodeSplitting enabled
const LazyAbout = lazyRouteComponent(() => import('./about'))

// CORRECT — just write normal route files, plugin handles splitting
// src/routes/about.tsx
export const Route = createFileRoute('/about')({
  component: AboutPage,
})

function AboutPage() {
  return <h1>About</h1>
}

4. HIGH: Editing the generated route tree

Changes to routeTree.gen.ts are overwritten and can leave source routes, generated types, and runtime routing out of sync. Fix route filenames or plugin configuration, regenerate, and verify the generated diff instead.

Cross-References

• @tanstack/router-core#router-core/code-splitting — manual code splitting concepts
• @tanstack/virtual-file-routes#virtual-file-routes — programmatic route trees