React Native Bottom Navigation

Here is an example of React Native Bottom Navigation for Android and IOS using React Navigation V5. Bottom Navigation is very useful when you have 2-3 main navigation options. It provides the user with easy access to regular usable options.

This example is updated for the React Navigation V5. For the React Navigation V4, you can scroll to the bottom.

In this example, We will make a Bottom Navigation with navigation options like Home and Setting. Each screen has other navigation options too. So let’s get started.

To Make a React Native App

Getting started with React Native will help you to know more about the way you can make a React Native project. We are going to use react native command line interface to make our React Native App.

If you have previously installed a global react-native-cli package, please remove it as it may cause unexpected issues:

npm uninstall -g react-native-cli @react-native-community/cli

Run the following commands to create a new React Native project

npx react-native init ProjectName

If you want to start a new project with a specific React Native version, you can use the --version argument:

npx react-native init ProjectName --version X.XX.X

Note If the above command is failing, you may have old version of react-native or react-native-cli installed globally on your pc. Try uninstalling the cli and run the cli using npx.

This will make a project structure with an index file named App.js in your project directory.

Installation of Dependencies

For React Native Bottom Navigation we need to add react-navigation and other supporting dependencies.

To install the dependencies open the terminal and jump into your project

cd ProjectName

1. Install react-navigation

npm install @react-navigation/native --save

2. Other supporting libraries react-native-gesture-handler, react-native-reanimated, react-native-screens and react-native-safe-area-context and @react-native-community/masked-view

npm install react-native-reanimated react-native-gesture-handler react-native-screens react-native-safe-area-context @react-native-community/masked-view --save

3. For the Bottom Navigator install

npm install @react-navigation/bottom-tabs --save

4. We are going to use MaterialCommunityIcons to show the menu icons from react-native-vector-icons/MaterialCommunityIcons. To install react-native-vector-icons

npm install react-native-vector-icons --save

Please visit Example to Use React Native Vector Icons for further instructions to complete the installation of Vector Icons.

5. These steps are enough for the bottom navigation but in this example, we are also using between screens so we will also need Stack Navigator

npm install @react-navigation/stack --save

Note: When you use a navigator, you’ll need to follow the installation instructions of that navigator for any additional dependencies. If you’re getting an error “Unable to resolve module”, you need to install that module in your project.

You might get warnings related to peer dependencies after installation. They are usually caused by incorrect version ranges specified in some packages. You can safely ignore most warnings as long as your app builds.

CocoaPods Installation

Please use the following command to install CocoaPods

cd ios && pod install && cd ..

To finalize the installation of react-native-gesture-handler, add the following at the top (make sure it’s at the top and there’s nothing else before it) of your entry files, such as index.js or App.js:

import 'react-native-gesture-handler';

Note: If you skip this step, your app may crash in production even if it works fine in development.

Project File Structure

To start with this Example you need to create a directory named pages in your project and create four files DetailsScreen.js, HomeScreen.js, ProfileScreen.js, and SettingScreen.js in it.

Code to Create React Native Bottom Navigation

App.js

Open App.js in any code editor and replace the code with the following code.

// React Native Bottom Navigation
// https://aboutreact.com/react-native-bottom-navigation/

import 'react-native-gesture-handler';

import * as React from 'react';

import
 MaterialCommunityIcons
from 'react-native-vector-icons/MaterialCommunityIcons';

import {
  NavigationContainer
} from '@react-navigation/native';
import {
  createStackNavigator
} from '@react-navigation/stack';
import {
  createBottomTabNavigator
} from '@react-navigation/bottom-tabs';

import HomeScreen from './pages/HomeScreen';
import DetailsScreen from './pages/DetailsScreen';
import ProfileScreen from './pages/ProfileScreen';
import SettingsScreen from './pages/SettingsScreen';

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

function HomeStack() {
  return (
      <Stack.Navigator
        initialRouteName="Home"
        screenOptions={{
          headerStyle: { backgroundColor: '#42f44b' },
          headerTintColor: '#fff',
          headerTitleStyle: { fontWeight: 'bold' }
        }}>
        <Stack.Screen
          name="Home"
          component={HomeScreen}
          options={{ title: 'Home Page' }}/>
        <Stack.Screen
          name="Details"
          component={DetailsScreen}
          options={{ title: 'Details Page' }} />
      </Stack.Navigator>
  );
}

function SettingsStack() {
  return (
    <Stack.Navigator
      initialRouteName="Settings"
      screenOptions={{
        headerStyle: { backgroundColor: '#42f44b' },
        headerTintColor: '#fff',
        headerTitleStyle: { fontWeight: 'bold' }
      }}>
      <Stack.Screen
        name="Settings"
        component={SettingsScreen}
        options={{ title: 'Setting Page' }}/>
      <Stack.Screen
        name="Details"
        component={DetailsScreen}
        options={{ title: 'Details Page' }}/>
      <Stack.Screen
        name="Profile"
        component={ProfileScreen}
        options={{ title: 'Profile Page' }}/>
    </Stack.Navigator>
  );
}

function App() {
  return (
    <NavigationContainer>
      <Tab.Navigator
        initialRouteName="Feed"
        tabBarOptions={{
          activeTintColor: '#42f44b',
        }}>
        <Tab.Screen
          name="HomeStack"
          component={HomeStack}
          options={{
            tabBarLabel: 'Home',
            tabBarIcon: ({ color, size }) => (
              <MaterialCommunityIcons
                name="home"
                color={color}
                size={size}
              />
            ),
          }}  />
        <Tab.Screen
          name="SettingsStack"
          component={SettingsStack}
          options={{
            tabBarLabel: 'Settings',
            tabBarIcon: ({ color, size }) => (
              <MaterialCommunityIcons
                name="settings"
                color={color}
                size={size}
              />
            ),
          }} />
      </Tab.Navigator>
    </NavigationContainer>
  );
}
export default App;

HomeScreen.js

Open pages/HomeScreen.js in any code editor and place the following code.

// React Native Bottom Navigation
// https://aboutreact.com/react-native-bottom-navigation/
import * as React from 'react';
import {
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet,
  View,
  Text,
  SafeAreaView
} from 'react-native';

const HomeScreen = ({ navigation }) => {
  return (
    <SafeAreaView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <View style={{ flex: 1, padding: 16 }}>
        <View
          style={{
            flex: 1,
            alignItems: 'center',
            justifyContent: 'center',
          }}>
          <Text
            style={{
              fontSize: 25,
              textAlign: 'center',
              marginBottom: 16
            }}>
            You are on Home Screen
          </Text>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => navigation.navigate(
                'SettingsStack', { screen: 'Settings' }
              )}>
            <Text>Go to settng Tab</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => navigation.navigate('Details')
            }>
            <Text>Open Details Screen</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 18,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          React Native Bottom Navigation
        </Text>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 16,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          www.aboutreact.com
        </Text>
      </View>
    </SafeAreaView>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  button: {
    alignItems: 'center',
    backgroundColor: '#DDDDDD',
    padding: 10,
    width: 300,
    marginTop: 16,
  },
});
export default HomeScreen;

DetailsScreen.js

Open pages/DetailsScreen.js in any code editor and place the following code.

// React Native Bottom Navigation
// https://aboutreact.com/react-native-bottom-navigation/
import * as React from 'react';
import { View, Text, SafeAreaView } from 'react-native';

const DetailsScreen = () => {
  return (
    <SafeAreaView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <View style={{ flex: 1 , padding: 16}}>
        <View
          style={{
            flex: 1,
            alignItems: 'center',
            justifyContent: 'center',
          }}>
          <Text
            style={{
              fontSize: 25,
              textAlign: 'center',
              marginBottom: 16
            }}>
            You are on Details Screen
          </Text>
        </View>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 18,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          React Native Bottom Navigation
        </Text>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 16,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          www.aboutreact.com
        </Text>
      </View>
    </SafeAreaView>
  );
}
export default DetailsScreen;

ProfileScreen.js

Open pages/ProfileScreen.js in any code editor and place the following code.

// React Native Bottom Navigation
// https://aboutreact.com/react-native-bottom-navigation/

import * as React from 'react';
import { View, Text, SafeAreaView } from 'react-native';

const ProfileScreen = () => {
  return (
    <SafeAreaView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <View style={{ flex: 1, padding: 16 }}>
        <View
          style={{
            flex: 1,
            alignItems: 'center',
            justifyContent: 'center',
          }}>
          <Text
            style={{
              fontSize: 25,
              textAlign: 'center',
              marginBottom: 16
            }}>
            You are on Profile Screen
          </Text>
        </View>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 18,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          React Native Bottom Navigation
        </Text>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 16,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          www.aboutreact.com
        </Text>
      </View>
    </SafeAreaView>
  );
}
export default ProfileScreen;

SettingsScreen.js

Open pages/SettingsScreen.js in any code editor and place the following code.

// React Native Bottom Navigation
// https://aboutreact.com/react-native-bottom-navigation/
import * as React from 'react';
import {
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet,
  View,
  Text,
  SafeAreaView
} from 'react-native';

const SettingsScreen = ({ route, navigation }) => {
  return (
    <SafeAreaView style={{ flex: 1 }}>
      <View style={{ flex: 1, padding: 16 }}>
        <View
          style={{
            flex: 1,
            alignItems: 'center',
            justifyContent: 'center',
          }}>
          <Text
            style={{
              fontSize: 25,
              textAlign: 'center',
              marginBottom: 16
            }}>
            You are on Setting Screen
          </Text>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => navigation.navigate('Home')
            }>
            <Text>Go to Home Tab</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => navigation.navigate('Details')
            }>
            <Text>Open Detail Screen</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => navigation.navigate('Profile')
            }>
            <Text>Open Profile Screen</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 18,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          React Native Bottom Navigation
        </Text>
        <Text
          style={{
            fontSize: 16,
            textAlign: 'center',
            color: 'grey'
          }}>
          www.aboutreact.com
        </Text>
      </View>
    </SafeAreaView>
  );
}
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  button: {
    alignItems: 'center',
    backgroundColor: '#DDDDDD',
    padding: 10,
    width: 300,
    marginTop: 16,
  },
});
export default SettingsScreen;

To Run the React Native App

Open the terminal again and jump into your project using.

cd ProjectName

1. Start Metro Bundler

First, you will need to start Metro, the JavaScript bundler that ships with React Native. To start Metro bundler run following command

npx react-native start

Once you start Metro Bundler it will run forever on your terminal until you close it. Let Metro Bundler run in its own terminal. Open a new terminal and run the application.

2. Start React Native Application

To run the project on an Android Virtual Device or on real debugging device

npx react-native run-android

or on the iOS Simulator by running (macOS only)

npx react-native run-ios

Download Source Code

Output Screenshots

Android (Home menu with details screen in it)

IOS (Home menu with details screen in it)

Android (Setting menu with detail and profile screens in it)

IOS (Setting menu with detail and profile screens in it)

In this example, we have used MaterialCommunityIcons for the bottom navigation tab icons. If you want to use the icons from the local directory of your project then please visit our next post on Bottom Navigation with Navigation Icon from Local Directory. This will be a similar example but the bottom tab icon will be from the project’s local directory.

Output in Online Emulator

That was the React Native Bottom Navigation for Android and IOS using React Navigation V5. If you have any doubts or you want to share something about the topic you can comment below or contact us here. There will be more posts coming soon. Stay tuned!

I hope you liked it. 🙂

For React Navigation V4

If you are starting a new app or learning for the first time you should follow V5 steps to create Bottom Navigation but if you are still developing the application using React Navigation V4 then you can follow the below steps.

Installation of Dependencies

Please run following commands in your project directory to install the dependencies

npm install react-navigation --save

npm install react-native-gesture-handler react-native-safe-area-context @react-native-community/masked-view react-native-screens react-native-reanimated --save

npm install react-navigation-tabs --save

npm install react-navigation-stack --save

npm install react-native-vector-icons --save

react-native link react-native-vector-icons

cd ios && pod install && cd ..

Code

App.js

//This is an example code for Bottom Navigation//
import React from 'react';
import {
  Button,
  Text,
  View,
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet
} from 'react-native';
//import all the basic component we have used
import Ionicons from 'react-native-vector-icons/Ionicons';
//import Ionicons to show the icon for bottom options

//import React Navigation
import {createAppContainer} from 'react-navigation';
import {createBottomTabNavigator} from 'react-navigation-tabs';
import {createStackNavigator} from 'react-navigation-stack';

import HomeScreen from './pages/HomeScreen';
import SettingsScreen from './pages/SettingsScreen';
import DetailsScreen from './pages/DetailsScreen';
import ProfileScreen from './pages/ProfileScreen';
const HomeStack = createStackNavigator(
  {
    //Defination of Navigaton from home screen
    Home: { screen: HomeScreen },
    Details: { screen: DetailsScreen },
  },
  {
    defaultNavigationOptions: {
      //Header customization of the perticular Screen
      headerStyle: {
        backgroundColor: '#42f44b',
      },
      headerTintColor: '#FFFFFF',
      title: 'Home',
      //Header title
    },
  }
);
const SettingsStack = createStackNavigator(
  {
    //Defination of Navigaton from setting screen
    Settings: { screen: SettingsScreen },
    Details: { screen: DetailsScreen },
    Profile: { screen: ProfileScreen },
  },
  {
    defaultNavigationOptions: {
      //Header customization of the perticular Screen
      headerStyle: {
        backgroundColor: '#42f44b',
      },
      headerTintColor: '#FFFFFF',
      title: 'Settings',
      //Header title
    },
  }
);
const App = createBottomTabNavigator(
  {
    Home: { screen: HomeStack },
    Settings: { screen: SettingsStack },
  },
  {
    defaultNavigationOptions: ({ navigation }) => ({
      tabBarIcon: ({ focused, horizontal, tintColor }) => {
        const { routeName } = navigation.state;
        let IconComponent = Ionicons;
        let iconName;
        if (routeName === 'Home') {
          iconName = `ios-information-circle${focused ?
            '' : '-outline'
          }`;
        } else if (routeName === 'Settings') {
          iconName = `ios-checkmark-circle${focused ?
            '' : '-outline'
          }`;
        }
        return <IconComponent
                 name={iconName}
                 size={25}
                 color={tintColor}
               />;
      },
    }),
    tabBarOptions: {
      activeTintColor: '#42f44b',
      inactiveTintColor: 'gray',
    },
  }
);
export default createAppContainer(App);

pages/HomeScreen.js

//This is an example code for Bottom Navigation//
import React from 'react';
//import react in our code.
import {
  Text,
  View,
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet
} from 'react-native';
//import all the basic component we have used

export default class HomeScreen extends React.Component {
  //Home Screen to show in Home Option
  render() {
    return (
      <View
        style={{
          flex: 1,
          justifyContent: 'center',
          alignItems: 'center'
        }}>
        <Text
          style={{
            marginTop: 50,
            fontSize: 25
          }}>Home!</Text>
        <View
          style={{
            flex: 1,
            justifyContent: 'center',
            alignItems: 'center'
          }}>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => this.props.navigation.navigate('Settings')
            }>
            <Text>Go to settng Tab</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => this.props.navigation.navigate('Details')
            }>
            <Text>Open Details Screen</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
      </View>
    );
  }
}
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  button: {
    alignItems: 'center',
    backgroundColor: '#DDDDDD',
    padding: 10,
    width: 300,
    marginTop: 16,
  },
});

pages/DetailsScreen.js

//This is an example code for Bottom Navigation//
import React from 'react';
//import react in our code.
import {
  Text,
  View,
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet
} from 'react-native';
//import all the basic component we have used

export default class DetailsScreen extends React.Component {
  //Detail Screen to show from any Open detail button
  render() {
    return (
      <View
        style={{
          flex: 1,
          justifyContent: 'center',
          alignItems: 'center'
        }}>
        <Text>Details!</Text>
      </View>
    );
  }
}

pages/ProfileScreen.js

//This is an example code for Bottom Navigation//
import React from 'react';
//import react in our code.
import {
  Text,
  View,
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet
} from 'react-native';
//import all the basic component we have used

export default class ProfileScreen extends React.Component {
  //Profile Screen to show from Open profile button
  render() {
    return (
      <View
        style={{
          flex: 1,
          justifyContent: 'center',
          alignItems: 'center'
        }}>
        <Text>Profile!</Text>
      </View>
    );
  }
}

pages/SettingsScreen.js

//This is an example code for Bottom Navigation//
import React from 'react';
//import react in our code.
import {
  Text,
  View,
  TouchableOpacity,
  StyleSheet
} from 'react-native';
//import all the basic component we have used

export default class SettingsScreen extends React.Component {
  //Setting Screen to show in Setting Option
  render() {
    return (
      <View
        style={{
          flex: 1,
          justifyContent: 'center',
          alignItems: 'center'
        }}>
        <Text
          style={{
            marginTop: 50,
            fontSize: 25
          }}>
          Setting!
        </Text>
        <View
          style={{
            flex: 1,
            justifyContent: 'center',
            alignItems: 'center'
          }}>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => this.props.navigation.navigate('Home')
            }>
            <Text>Go to Home Tab</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => this.props.navigation.navigate('Details')
            }>
            <Text>Open Detail Screen</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
          <TouchableOpacity
            style={styles.button}
            onPress={
              () => this.props.navigation.navigate('Profile')
            }>
            <Text>Open Profile Screen</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
      </View>
    );
  }
}
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  button: {
    alignItems: 'center',
    backgroundColor: '#DDDDDD',
    padding: 10,
    width: 300,
    marginTop: 16,
  },
});

Download Source Code for V4

React Navigation V5 update brings lots of changes in terms of performance and structure. I will suggest you switch to V5 if you are on V4.

16 thoughts on “React Native Bottom Navigation – Example using React Navigation V5”

Nilesh

December 20, 2018 at 11:30 pm

Please how to home page diffrent 2 button click go to diffrent bottom tab bar example add please ….
- Snehal Agrawal
  
  December 20, 2018 at 11:57 pm
  
  Hello Nilesh,
  you can download the project files from here.
  https://we.tl/t-mKYf3nIAcL
  
  You can also see the snack here
  https://snack.expo.io/SJjbtF-xE?session_id=snack-session–mKzbXCcE
  
  Process:
  1. You just need to make a React Native project.
  2. Replace app.js and place pages folder from the downloaded files.
  3. Add the react-navigation in the project (This Example will help you https://aboutreact.com/react-native-navigation-router/).
  and RUN the project.
Alan Rodrigo Moraes Rocha

July 8, 2019 at 12:15 am

Hello, how do I put a floating action button on the tab navigation?
- Snehal Agrawal
  
  July 15, 2019 at 1:07 am
  
  There is not a way to put a floating action button on a single place instead you have to make a different component for that and have to include that component into all screens.
Akula

September 27, 2019 at 8:39 am

I am new to React Native. After seeing your tutorial, I gained so much knowledge. Great Tutorial sir.
- Snehal Agrawal
  
  September 27, 2019 at 7:44 pm
  
  Welcome, Nice to hear that 🙂
Mert

February 19, 2020 at 1:31 pm

I was looking for!!!! THNKS A LOT DUDE!!!!
- Snehal Agrawal
  
  April 5, 2020 at 6:45 pm
  
  Welcome 🙂
Emaarist

March 24, 2020 at 5:26 am

I will add this now thank you!
- Snehal Agrawal
  
  April 5, 2020 at 6:45 pm
  
  Welcome 🙂
mootai

June 8, 2020 at 6:21 pm

thx a lot for shareing
dim

January 14, 2021 at 11:55 am

hello! thank you for your tutorial!
but do you know how to remove top navbar?)
- Snehal Agrawal
  
  January 20, 2021 at 8:42 am
  
  You can see 3 Ways to Hide Navigation Bar in React Native Application
  - dom
    
    January 24, 2021 at 11:39 am
    
    thank you sir! and one more question please)) how to refresh on double tap on nav button?)
    - Snehal Agrawal
      
      January 31, 2021 at 12:54 pm
      
      There is nothing like double tap, instead you can use focus listener
      
      const unsubscribe = navigation.addListener('focus', () => { // Do whatever you want, called when screen is in focus });
      
      Please have a look at the Refresh Previous Screen after Going Back in React Navigation
suresh dobariya

August 14, 2021 at 11:13 pm

Bottom Navigation v5 in how to Tab Background color change