Nuqs, an open-source type-safe search params state manager for React, was showcased at React Advanced 2025, demonstrating how URL state management can transform application development across the React ecosystem.
At React Advanced 2025 in London on November 28, François Best, a freelance software engineer, presented his library Nuqs, which is used by companies including Sentry, Supabase, Vercel, and Clerk. The presentation explored how storing application state in URL search parameters unlocks capabilities that traditional state management approaches cannot provide.
Best introduced the concept of URL state as storing application data in the query string portion of URLs, describing two key advantages he calls “superpowers.” The first, teleportation, enables users to share links that preserve complete application state, allowing recipients to see identical views and pick up exactly where others left off. The second, time travel, leverages bookmarks and browser history as mechanisms for recalling past application states.
The library replaces React’s standard useState hook with useQueryState, providing automatic synchronization between component state and URL parameters. Nuqs includes built-in parsers that transform URL strings into typed values such as integers, booleans, and dates, ensuring type safety throughout the application. The library supports all major React frameworks through adapter providers, including Next.js app and pages routers, Remix, React Router, and TanStack Router.
The presentation demonstrated advanced features addressing common URL state challenges. Time safety decouples UI updates from URL updates, preventing browser rate-limiting issues while maintaining responsive interfaces. Throttling and debouncing capabilities prevent excessive network requests during high-frequency interactions like text inputs. Integration with React’s useTransition provides loading indicators during server-side rendering updates. The library also supports URL key mapping, allowing developers to use descriptive variable names internally while keeping URLs concise for end users.
The presentation highlighted testing capabilities through a dedicated testing adapter that mocks required functionality, enabling developers to test both initial URL value loading and search parameter updates. Best noted the project has nearly 10,000 stars on GitHub and is maintained during evenings and weekends with growing community contributions.
Best outlined several important limitations of URL state management that developers must consider. URL length creates practical constraints, as users prefer shorter, more readable links. Once shared, URLs cannot be controlled, requiring migration strategies when making changes to search parameter schemas. Browsers rate-limit URL updates for security reasons, necessitating careful state update management. URL parameters create entry points into applications, requiring robust state machine design to handle direct navigation.
The developer community has responded positively to Nuqs. The video titled The BEST Type-Safe URL State Manager
highlighted how the library handles parsing, throttling, defaults, and server-side rendering. One developer writing for DevFullstack suggested the library could replace React state management
noting how it works exactly as useState works but stores the state in the URL.
Nuqs is open-source software maintained primarily by François Best, with an MIT license and active development on GitHub. The library weighs approximately 6 kilobytes gzipped and supports TypeScript with end-to-end type safety between server and client components.
