useSegments

Returns the current route as an array of path segments. Segments match the file path structure, not the resolved URL values.

import { useSegments } from 'one'

// File: app/users/[id]/settings.tsx
// URL: /users/123/settings

export default function SettingsPage() {
  const segments = useSegments()
  // Returns: ['users', '[id]', 'settings']
  // Note: Returns '[id]' not '123'

  return <Text>Route: /{segments.join('/')}</Text>
}

When to Use

Use useSegments when you need to know which route file is active, rather than the resolved URL:

Route matching - Check which section of the app is active
Navigation guards - Protect routes based on segments
Breadcrumbs - Build navigation from route structure

For resolved URL values, use usePathname or useParams.

TypeScript

You can strictly type segments for better type safety:

// Given file structure:
// app/
//   settings.tsx
//   [user]/
//     index.tsx
//     followers.tsx

type AppSegments =
  | ['settings']
  | ['[user]']
  | ['[user]', 'followers']

function RouteHandler() {
  const segments = useSegments<AppSegments>()

  if (segments[0] === 'settings') {
    return <SettingsPage />
  }

  if (segments[0] === '[user]') {
    if (segments[1] === 'followers') {
      return <FollowersPage />
    }
    return <UserPage />
  }
}

Examples

Auth Guard

function AuthGuard({ children }) {
  const segments = useSegments()
  const { user } = useAuth()

  const inAuthGroup = segments[0] === '(auth)'

  useEffect(() => {
    if (!user && !inAuthGroup) {
      router.replace('/login')
    } else if (user && inAuthGroup) {
      router.replace('/')
    }
  }, [user, inAuthGroup])

  return children
}

Tab Highlighting

function TabBar() {
  const segments = useSegments()
  const activeTab = segments[0]

  return (
    <div>
      <Tab active={activeTab === 'home'} href="/home">Home</Tab>
      <Tab active={activeTab === 'search'} href="/search">Search</Tab>
      <Tab active={activeTab === 'profile'} href="/profile">Profile</Tab>
    </div>
  )
}

Segments vs Pathname

Hook	Returns	Use Case
`useSegments()`	`['users', '[id]']`	Route matching, guards
`usePathname()`	`'/users/123'`	Display, analytics

usePathname - Resolved pathname string
useParams - Dynamic segment values

Introduction

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