Offline Support Overview

Introduction

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of implementing offline support in React Native applications. It covers various aspects from basic connectivity monitoring to advanced data synchronization.

Core Components

The offline support implementation is divided into several key areas, each covered in detail in its dedicated guide:

1. Offline Connectivity Management

   • Network state monitoring
   • Online/offline detection
   • Connection type handling

2. query-caching

   • Data persistence strategies
   • Cache management
   • Stale data handling

3. mutation-queueing

   • Offline action storage
   • Queue management
   • Error handling

4. synchronization

   • Background sync
   • Conflict resolution
   • Data reconciliation

5. ui-feedback

   • Connection status indicators
   • Sync progress display
   • Error notifications

Prerequisites

Before implementing offline support, ensure you have:

• @react-native-community/netinfo installed and configured
• AsyncStorage or another local storage mechanism
• TanStack Query setup (see Server State Management Guide)
• Core API services and structure
• Basic understanding of the Security & Offline Framework

Alternative Approaches

Consider these alternatives for specific use cases:

1. Dedicated Offline-First Databases

   • WatermelonDB
   • Realm
   • Benefits: More robust capabilities
   • Trade-offs: Steeper learning curve

2. Server-Driven Offline

   • Backend platform SDKs
   • Benefits: Automated sync
   • Trade-offs: Platform lock-in

Getting Started

Start with the Offline Connectivity Management guide to implement basic offline detection, then proceed through the other guides based on your application's needs.