How to Fix the React Query Shows Previous Page Data Issue in Your React App

Discover how to resolve the problem of `React Query` displaying outdated data when navigating between pages in your React app. Follow our step-by-step guide for a seamless experience!
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How to Fix the React Query Shows Previous Page Data Issue in Your React App

If you're working on a React project that utilizes both react-query for data fetching and react-router for navigation, you may encounter an issue where content from a previous page appears briefly on the new page while the new data is loading. This can lead to confusion for the users of your application and degrade their experience. In this guide, we'll explore the underlying cause of this issue and provide a straightforward solution to ensure that only the relevant data is displayed when navigating between pages.

Understanding the Problem

The Situation

You have a React application with two pages: a Blog and a Gallery. In both components, you are using the useQuery hook from react-query to fetch data from different sources. The behavior you’re experiencing is that when a user navigates from the Blog to the Gallery page, content from the Blog momentarily shows up in the Gallery until the new data is fully loaded. This can be disorienting and undesirable from a user experience perspective.

Example Code Structure

Your App function is structured as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Current Fetch Component Logic

Currently, in both the Blog and Gallery components, you are using the following useQuery code to fetch data:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution: Use Unique Query Keys

Why Unique Query Keys Matter

The root of the problem lies in how react-query manages its caching mechanism. Each query is stored in a cache object where the queryKey serves as the identifier for each piece of data. If the same key is used for multiple queries, the data will overlap, causing the previous data to persist when it should have been replaced. This can make it seem like the old data is still being displayed.

How to Implement the Fix

Here's how you can do this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of Changes

No Need for keepPreviousData: The keepPreviousData option defaults to false. Thus, it’s unnecessary to include this unless you have a specific case where you want old data to persist while new data is loaded.

Final Thoughts

By introducing unique queryKeys, you enhance the reliability of your data-fetching operations, preventing outdated data from being shown when transitioning between pages. This simple but effective adjustment will lead to a smoother user experience in your React application.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are facing issues with react-query displaying previous page data upon navigation, remember the importance of unique query keys. Implement the recommended changes, and you will ensure your application presents the correct data in real-time, reflecting user interactions seamlessly.

Now, get ready to take your React application to the next level with these best practices in data management!