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Where to Use App Shell in React Apps

App Shell is a full layout with sidebar navigation, mobile drawer, and scrollable main content. Product teams ship it when every authenticated route needs a consistent frame instead of reinventing chrome per page.

Where teams use App Shell

  1. Use case 1

    SaaS authenticated layout

    Wrap dashboard routes with sidebar, drawer, and main scroll. Keeps navigation IA stable as features grow.

  2. Use case 2

    Internal admin portal

    Ops tools reuse the shell for users, billing, and flags. Mobile drawer covers phone on-call access.

  3. Use case 3

    Docs-plus-app hybrid

    Product-led docs sit beside app pages in the same shell. Scrollable main isolates content from sticky nav.

  4. Use case 4

    Partner console

    ISV partner portals get branded chrome quickly. Shell boundaries make it obvious what is navigation versus page body.

Who it is for

Frontend architects establishing the primary authenticated layout for React apps.

Try App Shell on AkmanOS

Resize to feel the mobile drawer in the preview, then copy markdown into Claude or Cursor to scaffold App Shell around your routes.

Preview /preview/app-shell