Expo & React Native Best Practices

Navigation (Expo Router)

• Use File-based routing in the app/ directory.
• Use Link from expo-router for navigation, but prefer router.push() or router.replace() for logic-based navigation in event handlers.
• Navigation Context Stability: Avoid using useRouter or useNavigation deep inside component trees that are rendered in Modals or Portals.
  • Constraint: React 19 / NativeWind interop can cause circular navigation context lookups, leading to "Navigation Context" crashes.
  • Fix: Elevate navigation logic to the Screen/Page level and pass navigation handlers (like onClose) down to children.
• Screens should be wrapped in Stack.Screen or Tabs.Screen to configure headers.