TanStack Start Patterns

Server Functions

• Define with createServerFn from @tanstack/react-start
• Use .validator() for input validation (e.g. with zod)
• Use .handler() for the implementation
• Server functions run on the server only — safe for DB access and secrets

Router

• File-based routing in src/routes/
• Use createFileRoute for route definitions
• Use loader for server-side data fetching (runs on server)
• Use beforeLoad for auth guards and redirects
• Route context flows from __root.tsx to child routes

Query

• Use queryOptions to define reusable query configs
• Use useSuspenseQuery in components for data fetching
• Invalidate queries after mutations with queryClient.invalidateQueries()
• TanStack Query handles caching, deduplication, and background refetching

Key Conventions

• Path alias: @/ → apps/web/src/
• Route files: src/routes/<path>.tsx
• Layouts: src/routes/_<layout>.tsx (pathless layout routes)
• API routes: src/routes/api/<name>.ts