To implement client-side routing in a single-page application (SPA) using JavaScript, you can follow these steps:
Define the routes: Start by defining the routes you want to handle in your application. Each route will be associated with a specific component/page that should be rendered when that route is accessed.
Set up a router: Choose a router library that suits your needs. Some popular options include React Router, Vue Router, and Angular Router. Install and import the router library into your project.
Initialize the router: Create an instance of the router and configure it with the defined routes. This typically involves creating route definitions and associating them with the corresponding components/pages.
Add a router outlet: In your HTML markup, add a <div> element that will serve as the target container to render the components/pages. This is commonly referred to as the "router outlet" or "view container".
Render the initial route: In your JavaScript code, find the router outlet element using DOM manipulation or a framework-specific method. Call the router's initial route rendering method and pass it the router outlet element. This will render the initial route/component in the router outlet.
Handle navigation events: Add event listeners or hooks to listen for navigation events, such as clicking on links or pushing buttons. When a navigation event occurs, prevent the default browser behavior and instead trigger the router's navigation method with the desired route. This will update the URL and render the associated component/page in the router outlet.
Optional: URL params and query strings: If your application requires URL parameters or query strings, you can define routes with placeholders for dynamic values. The router library will then parse the current URL and provide the parameter values to the associated component/page.
By following these steps, you can achieve client-side routing in a SPA using JavaScript.