Query: Is the Gutenberg Interactivity Router similar to Next.js or React Router? If not, why is it implemented differently?

[theaminuli]

Context:

I am working with both Next.js and React Router, which are primarily designed for client-side routing in SPAs (Single Page Applications). These handle navigation with seamless URL changes without refreshing the page, and I’ve noticed they offer advanced features like dynamic and nested routes.

Question:

I recently came across the @wordpress/interactivity-router package within the Block Editor (Gutenberg). While I understand it’s designed to manage interactive blocks in WordPress, it doesn’t seem to follow the same client-side routing paradigm as Next.js or React Router.

Could you clarify:

Whether the WordPress Interactivity Router is similar to Next.js/React Router in terms of functionality or design philosophy? If not, why was this router designed differently? Could it not be implemented in a similar client-side-only fashion, or is there a specific reason for server-side handling and WordPress’s unique block architecture driving the design?

Additional Context:

Rhea Routing and Nexus Routing, which I’ve used in other projects, seem much more straightforward for client-side routing. Why was a different approach taken in the WordPress context? Was the decision to lean on server-side logic and the block-based system crucial for interactivity, or is there potential for a more client-side, dynamic implementation like we see with these other frameworks?