UI-Router vs. ngRoute – Which one to use?

In AngularJS, both ngRoute and UI-Router handle routing, but they have key differences in features, flexibility, and use cases. Let’s compare them to help you choose the best one for your project.

1. Overview

Feature	ngRoute (Built-in)	UI-Router (Third-Party)
Routing Type	URL-based (single view)	State-based (nested views)
Multiple Views	No	Yes
Nested States	No	Yes
State Transitions	No	Yes
Better for SPA?	Limited	Ideal for SPAs
Deep Linking	Yes	Yes
Popularity	Core AngularJS module	More powerful & widely used

2. `ngRoute` – Simple and Basic Routing

ngRoute is AngularJS’s built-in routing module, ideal for simple single-page applications (SPAs) with basic navigation.

Example of ngRoute Configuration

var app = angular.module("myApp", ["ngRoute"]);

app.config(function($routeProvider) {
    $routeProvider
    .when("/", {
        templateUrl: "home.html",
        controller: "HomeController"
    })
    .when("/about", {
        templateUrl: "about.html",
        controller: "AboutController"
    })
    .otherwise({
        redirectTo: "/"
    });
});

Pros of ngRoute

✔ Simple and easy to set up.
✔ Built into AngularJS (no extra dependencies).
✔ Good for basic SPAs.

Cons of ngRoute

✖ No support for nested views.
✖ No support for multiple views on the same page.
✖ Not suitable for large applications.

3. `UI-Router` – Advanced Routing Solution

UI-Router is a third-party module for AngularJS that supports state-based routing, nested views, and multiple named views.

Example of UI-Router Configuration

var app = angular.module("myApp", ["ui.router"]);

app.config(function($stateProvider, $urlRouterProvider) {
    $urlRouterProvider.otherwise("/");

    $stateProvider
    .state("home", {
        url: "/",
        templateUrl: "home.html",
        controller: "HomeController"
    })
    .state("about", {
        url: "/about",
        templateUrl: "about.html",
        controller: "AboutController"
    })
    .state("profile", {
        url: "/profile/:userId",
        templateUrl: "profile.html",
        controller: "ProfileController"
    });
});

Pros of UI-Router

✔ Supports nested views.
✔ Supports multiple named views in a single page.
✔ More powerful state-based navigation.
✔ Suitable for large, scalable applications.
✔ Provides better URL handling and deep linking.

Cons of UI-Router

✖ Slightly more complex to configure.
✖ Requires an additional library (ui-router).
✖ Learning curve is higher than ngRoute.

4. Key Differences Between ngRoute and UI-Router

Feature	ngRoute	UI-Router
Routing Type	URL-based	State-based
Nested Views	No	Yes
Multiple Named Views	No	Yes
State Management	No	Yes
Dynamic Parameters	Yes (`$routeParams`)	Yes (`$stateParams`)
Best for	Simple SPAs	Large and complex apps

5. When to Use Which?

Use `ngRoute` if:

Your app is small with only a few pages.
You need basic navigation without complex routing.
You prefer a built-in AngularJS solution without extra dependencies.

Use `UI-Router` if:

Your app is large and complex (e.g., dashboards, admin panels).
You need nested views and multiple named views.
You require state-based routing for better control.
You want a more scalable solution for SPAs.