Route vs. Query Parameters — Frontend Devs, Let’s Settle This

Using Axios + TanStack Query in React

As frontend devs, we work with APIs all the time. But here's a question that still catches some of us off guard — even in 2025:

| “Do I pass this as a route param or a query param?”

It’s a small thing that makes a big difference. I’ve seen bugs caused just by placing a filter in the URL path instead of the query — or vice versa.

So in this post, I’m breaking it down clearly:

• What route and query parameters really mean
• When to use each
• How I structure my API calls using Axios and TanStack Query
• Plus, a real-world example from one of my projects

Let’s make this clear — and scalable — once and for all.

1. What Are Route Parameters?

These are values embedded in the URL path — used to access a specific resource.

/users/42/orders        

This asks the server:

|“Give me the orders for the user with ID 42.”

- Backend Example (Node + Express):

- Frontend (Axios):

- Frontend (TanStack Query):

2. What Are Query Parameters?

These are values passed after a ? in the URL, often used for searching, filtering, or pagination.

/products?category=books&page=2        

This says:

| “Get products in the books category, page 2.”

- Backend Example:

- Frontend (Axios):

- Frontend (TanStack Query):

When to Use Route Parameters vs. Query Parameters?

• Route Parameters are commonly used when you want to identify a specific resource, like fetching a user by ID or accessing a particular item.
• Query Parameters are commonly used when you want to filter, search, or paginate results, such as filtering products by category or navigating through pages.

Pro Tip for Frontend Devs

Before you make your request:

• Always check the API documentation or Swagger.

Sending the wrong type can cause 404s or empty data — especially with tools like TanStack Query, where query keys and params must align properly.

Route params and query params might feel similar — but they serve very different purposes. As a frontend dev, understanding both makes your API interactions smoother and more predictable.

• Route params = resource identifiers
• Query params = filters, search, pagination

Always look closely at the API docs. It saves time, and helps you fetch data right the first time.

Happy Coding!