How to Set Center Tab as Initial Tab in Expo Router: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of your app’s navigation bar starting from the first tab by default? Do you want to create a more intuitive user experience by setting the center tab as the initial tab in Expo Router? Look no further! In this article, we’ll take you through a comprehensive guide on how to achieve this seemingly complex task with ease.

Why Set Center Tab as Initial Tab?

Setting the center tab as the initial tab can have several benefits for your app’s user experience. For instance:

• It allows users to access the most important or frequently used feature of your app immediately, improving engagement and retention.
• It creates a sense of balance and symmetry in your app’s design, making it more aesthetically pleasing and modern.
• It provides a clear indication of the app’s core functionality, helping users understand its purpose and value proposition.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the implementation, make sure you have the following set up:

1. expo-cli installed globally on your machine.
2. A new or existing Expo project created using expo init.
3. The react-navigation library installed in your project.
4. A basic understanding of React, React Native, and Expo.

Step 1: Create a Bottom Tab Navigator

Create a new file called BottomTabNavigator.js and add the following code:

import { createBottomTabNavigator } from '@react-navigation/bottom-tabs';
import { createStackNavigator } from '@react-navigation/stack';
import React from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';

const Tab = createBottomTabNavigator();
const Stack = createStackNavigator();

const HomeScreen = () => {
  return (
    
  );
};

const CenterScreen = () => {
  return (
    
  );
};

const SettingsScreen = () => {
  return (
    
  );
};

const BottomTabNavigator = () => {
  return (
    
      
      
      
    
  );
};

export default BottomTabNavigator;

Step 2: Set Center Tab as Initial Tab

In the above code, notice the initialRouteName prop in the Tab.Navigator component. This prop determines the initial tab to be displayed when the app launches. By setting it to "Center", we’re telling the navigator to start from the center tab.

However, this is not enough. We need to make sure that the center tab is actually centered in the tab bar. To achieve this, add the following styles to your BottomTabNavigator.js file:

const styles = {
  tabBarOptions: {
    style: {
      justifyContent: 'center',
    },
  },
};

Then, update the Tab.Navigator component to use these styles:

  {/* tab screens */}

Step 3: Add Center Tab Icon and Label

To make the center tab look visually appealing, let’s add an icon and label to it. Update the CenterScreen component as follows:

const CenterScreen = () => {
  return (
    
  );
};

Now, the center tab should display a heart icon and a “Center” label.

Step 4: Integrate with App.js

Finally, integrate the BottomTabNavigator with your app’s entry point, App.js. Replace the default App component with the following code:

import React from 'react';
import { NavigationContainer } from '@react-navigation/native';
import BottomTabNavigator from './BottomTabNavigator';

const App = () => {
  return (
    
      
    
  );
};

export default App;

Result

Run your app using expo start, and you should see the center tab as the initial tab in Expo Router. Congratulations!

Center Tab Example

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve demonstrated how to set the center tab as the initial tab in Expo Router. By following these steps, you can create a more intuitive and visually appealing navigation experience for your app’s users. Remember to customize the styles and icons to fit your app’s brand and design.

For further customization and advanced techniques, refer to the official React Navigation and Expo Router documentation.

Happy coding! 🚀

Frequently Asked Question

Get ready to master the art of setting the center tab as the initial tab in Expo Router!