dotcom-arcade/docs/04-frontend/state-management/url-state.md

URL State Management

Documentation for managing filter and pagination state in URL search params.

Overview

The application uses URL search parameters (query strings) to manage:

• Filters (platform, tags, search, etc.)
• Pagination (page, limit)
• Sort options

Benefits:

• Shareable URLs
• Browser back/forward support
• Bookmark-able search results
• No client-side state management needed

Usage Pattern

import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';

function BrowseView() {
  const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();

  // Read from URL
  const platform = searchParams.get('platform') || 'all';
  const page = parseInt(searchParams.get('page') || '1');
  const search = searchParams.get('search') || '';

  // Update URL
  const updateFilters = (newFilters: Partial<GameFilters>) => {
    const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams);

    Object.entries(newFilters).forEach(([key, value]) => {
      if (value && value !== 'all') {
        params.set(key, String(value));
      } else {
        params.delete(key);
      }
    });

    setSearchParams(params);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <FilterPanel
        filters={{ platform, page, search }}
        onFiltersChange={updateFilters}
      />
      <GameGrid filters={{ platform, page, search }} />
    </div>
  );
}

Filter Synchronization

Filters in URL sync with TanStack Query:

// URL params automatically trigger new query
const { data, isLoading } = useGames({
  platform: searchParams.get('platform'),
  search: searchParams.get('search'),
  page: parseInt(searchParams.get('page') || '1')
});

URL Structure

Browse View

/browse?platform=Flash&search=mario&page=2&limit=50&sort=title

Parameters:

• platform - Filter by platform (Flash, HTML5, etc.)
• search - Search query
• page - Current page number
• limit - Items per page
• sort - Sort field (title, releaseDate, etc.)
• order - Sort order (asc, desc)
• tags - Comma-separated tag IDs
• playMode - Single Player, Multiplayer, etc.
• library - arcade, theatre, etc.

Example URLs

# Flash games, page 2
/browse?platform=Flash&page=2

# Search for "mario"
/browse?search=mario

# Multiple filters
/browse?platform=HTML5&playMode=Single%20Player&sort=releaseDate&order=desc

Helper Functions

Build Filter Object from URL

function getFiltersFromURL(searchParams: URLSearchParams): GameFilters {
  return {
    platform: searchParams.get('platform') || undefined,
    search: searchParams.get('search') || undefined,
    page: parseInt(searchParams.get('page') || '1'),
    limit: parseInt(searchParams.get('limit') || '50'),
    sort: searchParams.get('sort') || undefined,
    order: searchParams.get('order') || undefined,
    tags: searchParams.get('tags')?.split(',') || undefined,
    playMode: searchParams.get('playMode') || undefined,
    library: searchParams.get('library') || undefined
  };
}

Update Single Filter

function updateFilter(key: string, value: string | number) {
  const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams);

  if (value && value !== 'all') {
    params.set(key, String(value));
  } else {
    params.delete(key);
  }

  // Reset to page 1 when filters change
  if (key !== 'page') {
    params.set('page', '1');
  }

  setSearchParams(params);
}

Clear All Filters

function clearFilters() {
  setSearchParams({});
}

Pagination with URL State

function Pagination({ total, page, limit }: PaginationProps) {
  const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();

  const goToPage = (newPage: number) => {
    const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams);
    params.set('page', String(newPage));
    setSearchParams(params);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={() => goToPage(page - 1)} disabled={page === 1}>
        Previous
      </button>
      <span>Page {page}</span>
      <button onClick={() => goToPage(page + 1)} disabled={page >= totalPages}>
        Next
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

Benefits

Shareable Links

Users can share exact search results:

https://flashpoint.app/browse?platform=Flash&search=pokemon&sort=title

Browser Navigation

Back/forward buttons work naturally:

• Back: Previous filter state
• Forward: Next filter state

Bookmarkable

Users can bookmark specific searches and return to exact state.

Caveats

URL Length Limits

Be cautious with very long filter combinations. Consider:

• Limiting number of tags
• Using shortened parameter names
• Storing complex filters server-side

Type Coercion

URL params are always strings:

// Parse numbers
const page = parseInt(searchParams.get('page') || '1');

// Parse booleans
const includeAnimations = searchParams.get('includeAnimations') === 'true';

// Parse arrays
const tags = searchParams.get('tags')?.split(',') || [];

Further Reading

• React Router Documentation
• Zustand Stores
• React Query