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85 changes: 61 additions & 24 deletions docs/start/framework/react/overview.md
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title: TanStack Start Overview
---

> [!NOTE]
> TanStack Start is currently in the **Release Candidate** stage! This means it is considered feature-complete and its API is considered stable.
> **This does not mean it is bug-free or without issues, which is why we invite you to try it out and provide feedback!**
> The road to v1 will likely be a quick one, so don't wait too long to try it out!
> [!NOTE]
> **TanStack Start** is currently in the **Release Candidate** stage!
> This means:
> - The API is **feature-complete** and considered **stable**.
> - It may still contain bugs or issues.
>
> We encourage you to try it out, share feedback, and help shape the final v1 release. 🚀
> The road to **v1** will be a quick one—so don’t wait too long to dive in!

TanStack Start is a full-stack React framework powered by TanStack Router. It provides a full-document SSR, streaming, server functions, bundling, and more. Thanks to [Vite](https://vite.dev/), it's ready to develop and deploy to any hosting provider or runtime you want!
---

## What is TanStack Start?

**TanStack Start** is a **full-stack React framework** built on top of [TanStack Router](https://tanstack.com/router).
It provides everything you need for modern app development, including:

## Dependencies
- **Full-document SSR**
- **Streaming**
- **Server functions**
- **Bundling**
- **Universal deployment**

TanStack Start is built on two key technologies:
Powered by [Vite](https://vite.dev/), it’s fast to develop with, and flexible enough to deploy to **any hosting provider or runtime**.

---

- **[TanStack Router](https://tanstack.com/router)**: A type-safe router for building web applications with advanced features like nested routing, search params, and data loading
- **[Vite](https://vite.dev/)**: A modern build tool that provides fast development with hot module replacement and optimized production builds
## Core Dependencies

TanStack Start is powered by two key technologies:

- **[TanStack Router](https://tanstack.com/router)** → A type-safe router for web apps with advanced features like nested routing, search params, and data loading.
- **[Vite](https://vite.dev/)** → A lightning-fast build tool that supports hot module replacement (HMR) and optimized production builds.

---

## Should I use TanStack Start or just TanStack Router?

90% of any framework usually comes down to the router, and TanStack Start is no different. **TanStack Start relies 100% on TanStack Router for its routing system.** In addition to TanStack Router's amazing features, Start enables even more powerful features:
Since **90% of a framework is its router**, TanStack Start leans fully on TanStack Router.

- **Full-document SSR** - Server-side rendering for better performance and SEO
- **Streaming** - Progressive page loading for improved user experience
- **Server Routes & API Routes** - Build backend endpoints alongside your frontend
- **Server Functions** - Type-safe RPCs between client and server
- **Middleware & Context** - Powerful request/response handling and data injection
- **Full-Stack Bundling** - Optimized builds for both client and server code
- **Universal Deployment** - Deploy to any Vite-compatible hosting provider
- **End-to-End Type Safety** - Full TypeScript support across the entire stack
With Start, you unlock advanced features beyond just routing:

That said, if you **know with certainty** that you will not need any of the above features, then you may want to consider using TanStack Router alone, which is still a powerful and type-safe SPA routing upgrade over other routers and frameworks.
- ⚡ **Full-document SSR** → Better performance and SEO
- 🌊 **Streaming** → Progressive page loading
- 🔌 **Server & API Routes** → Build backend endpoints alongside your frontend
- 🔒 **Server Functions** → Type-safe RPCs between client and server
- 🧩 **Middleware & Context** → Advanced request/response handling
- 📦 **Full-Stack Bundling** → Optimized builds for client + server
- 🌍 **Universal Deployment** → Deploy anywhere Vite runs
- ✅ **End-to-End Type Safety** → Strong TypeScript support throughout

## Are there limitations?
👉 If you’re certain you **don’t need these features**, using **TanStack Router** alone is still a solid and type-safe upgrade over other SPA routers.

The only relevant limitation is that TanStack Start does not currently support React Server Components, **but we are actively working on integration and expect to support them in the near future.**
---

## Limitations

Currently, TanStack Start does **not support React Server Components (RSCs)**.
However, work is underway, and **RSC support is expected soon**.

Otherwise, TanStack Start provides the same capability as other full-stack frameworks like Next.js, Remix, etc, with even more features and a more powerful developer experience.
Other than that, TanStack Start is comparable to frameworks like **Next.js** or **Remix**, often with more powerful features and a smoother developer experience.

---

## How is TanStack Start funded?

TanStack is 100% open source, free to use, and always will be. It is built and maintained by an extremely talented and dedicated community of developers and software engineers. TanStack.com (also open source) is owned by TanStack LLC, a privately held company, 100% bootstrapped and self-funded. We are not venture-backed and have never sought investors. To support the development of TanStack Start and other TanStack libraries, TanStack.com partners with [these amazing companies](https://tanstack.com/partners?status=active&libraries=%5B%22start%22%5D) who offer both financial support and resources to help us continue to build the best possible developer experience for the web community:
TanStack is:
- 💯 **Open source**
- 🆓 **Free to use, forever**
- 👥 Maintained by a community of talented developers

**TanStack.com** (also open source) is owned by **TanStack LLC**, a bootstrapped and self-funded company — not backed by VCs.

Development of TanStack libraries is supported by [our partners](https://tanstack.com/partners?status=active&libraries=%5B%22start%22%5D), who provide financial support and resources.

<iframe src="https://tanstack.com/partners-embed" style="aspect-ratio: 1/2; width: 100%;"></iframe>

---

## Ready to get started?

Go to the next page to learn how to install TanStack Start and create your first app!
➡️ Head to the next page to learn how to **install TanStack Start** and create your first app!