Building Modern Monolithic Applications with Inertia.js, Laravel, and React

Modern web development has increasingly pushed developers toward two seemingly opposite directions: traditional server-rendered applications or JavaScript-heavy single-page applications (SPAs). But what if you could have the best of both worlds? Enter Inertia.js—a revolutionary approach that allows you to build modern, single-page applications using classic server-side routing and controllers, without the complexity of building an API.

The State of Web Development in 2025

Before diving into Inertia.js, let’s look at the current landscape of web development. According to the 2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, JavaScript remains the most used programming language at 63.61%, with PHP sitting at 18.88%. Among frameworks, React is dominant at 40.58%, while Laravel holds a respectable position at 7.58%.

These statistics reveal an interesting trend: developers love modern JavaScript frameworks, but they also appreciate the productivity and simplicity of server-side frameworks like Laravel. The question becomes: why choose one when you could have both?

What is Inertia.js?

Inertia.js isn’t a framework in the traditional sense—it’s more of a glue that connects your server-side framework (like Laravel) with your client-side framework (like React, Vue, or Svelte). It allows you to build single-page applications without building an API.

With Inertia.js, you get to keep writing your application using your server-side framework’s routing, controllers, and authentication while enjoying the benefits of client-side rendering with modern JavaScript frameworks.

How Traditional Server-Side Applications Work

In a traditional server-side application:

1. The client browser makes a request to the server
2. The server processes the request, generates HTML, and sends it back
3. The browser renders the HTML and CSS
4. For any subsequent interaction, the cycle repeats with a full page reload

This approach is straightforward but can lead to a slower user experience due to full page reloads for every interaction.

How Single-Page Applications (SPAs) Work

In a typical SPA:

1. The client browser makes an initial request and receives a minimal HTML shell
2. JavaScript then takes over, making API requests to fetch data
3. The UI updates dynamically without full page reloads
4. All subsequent interactions happen through API calls, with the JavaScript frontend handling routing and state management

This creates a smoother user experience but introduces complexity in managing state, routing, and API integration.

How Inertia.js Works

Inertia.js takes a different approach:

1. The initial request works like a traditional server-side application, with the server returning a complete HTML page
2. For subsequent requests, Inertia.js adds a special X-Inertia header
3. When the server sees this header, instead of returning full HTML, it returns JSON with the page data and components
4. The client-side Inertia.js library updates only what’s necessary, creating an SPA-like experience

The key insight: No need for API endpoints! You keep writing controllers and rendering views just like in a traditional server-side application, but your users get the smooth experience of a single-page application.

Comparing Traditional, SPA, and Inertia.js Approaches

Let’s compare the pros and cons of each approach:

SPA Setup Pros

• No full page reloads
• Feels like a native app
• Highly interactive
• More responsive user experience

SPA Setup Cons

• Need to manage session, authentication, and state
• Requires separate routing for both frontend and API
• Often results in many API calls
• Security concerns with managing sensitive data on the client

Traditional Setup Pros

• Simpler mental model
• Built-in security features
• Less JavaScript to manage

Traditional Setup Cons

• Full page reloads
• Limited interactivity
• Slower user experience

Inertia.js Advantages

• Combines benefits of both approaches
• No need to build an API
• Single routing system
• Server-side security with client-side responsiveness
• GraphQL-like benefits without GraphQL complexity
• Limited AJAX calls
• Framework agnostic (works with Laravel, Rails, and more)

Problems Inertia.js Solves

Inertia.js directly addresses several common pain points in modern web development:

1. Complexity of SPAs

Single-page applications require managing client-side routing, state management, and API integrations, making the development process cumbersome. Inertia.js simplifies this by leveraging server-side routing.

2. Code Duplication

Traditional SPA setups often lead to duplicated validation, routing, and business logic between frontend and backend. Inertia.js eliminates this by centralizing these concerns.

3. Slow Development Cycle

Constantly switching between frontend and backend environments can slow down development. With Inertia.js, you’re working in a single, cohesive environment.

4. API Building Overhead

With Inertia.js, you don’t need to build and maintain a separate REST or GraphQL API, significantly reducing development time and complexity.

Getting Started with Inertia.js, Laravel, and React

Prerequisites

Before diving into Inertia.js development, you should have:

• Basic knowledge of Laravel
• Familiarity with React (or Vue.js)
• Node.js and NPM installed

Setting Up a Project

Here’s a simplified guide to setting up a Laravel project with Inertia.js and React:

1. Create a new Laravel project:

composer create-project laravel/laravel inertia-app
cd inertia-app

2. Install Inertia.js server-side adapter:

composer require inertiajs/inertia-laravel

3. Install NPM dependencies:

npm install @inertiajs/react @inertiajs/inertia-react

4. Configure Laravel to use Inertia.js by creating a root template:

<!-- resources/views/app.blade.php -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <title>Laravel Inertia</title>
    @vite('resources/js/app.js')
    @inertiaHead
</head>
<body>
    @inertia
</body>
</html>

5. Configure your JavaScript entry point:

// resources/js/app.js
import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client';
import { createInertiaApp } from '@inertiajs/react';
import { resolvePageComponent } from 'laravel-vite-plugin/inertia-helpers';

createInertiaApp({
    resolve: (name) => resolvePageComponent(`./Pages/${name}.jsx`, import.meta.glob('./Pages/**/*.jsx')),
    setup({ el, App, props }) {
        createRoot(el).render(<App {...props} />);
    },
});

6. Create a simple page component:

// resources/js/Pages/Welcome.jsx
export default function Welcome({ greeting }) {
    return (
        <div>
            <h1>{greeting}</h1>
        </div>
    );
}

7. Create a route that uses Inertia.js:

// routes/web.php
use Inertia\Inertia;

Route::get('/', function () {
    return Inertia::render('Welcome', [
        'greeting' => 'Hello from Laravel and Inertia.js!'
    ]);
});

8. Run your application:

npm run dev
php artisan serve

How Inertia.js Works Under the Hood

Understanding how Inertia.js works behind the scenes helps appreciate its elegance:

1. Initial Request:
   • The browser requests a page
   • The server returns a complete HTML document with the Inertia.js JavaScript library
   • The page includes the initial data needed for rendering
2. Subsequent Requests:
   • When a user navigates to another page, Inertia.js intercepts the click
   • It makes an XHR request to the server with a special X-Inertia header
   • The server recognizes this header and returns JSON instead of HTML
   • Inertia.js updates the page with the new content without a full reload
3. Form Submissions:
   • Inertia.js handles form submissions via XHR
   • Server validation errors are returned to the client
   • The page updates accordingly without a full reload

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: server-side rendering for the initial page load (great for SEO) and client-side updates for subsequent interactions (great for user experience).

Real-World Use Cases

Inertia.js is ideal for a variety of applications:

1. Admin Dashboards

Admin panels benefit greatly from the SPA-like experience while maintaining the simplicity of server-side routing and authentication.

2. CRUD Applications

Applications with many forms and data tables become much more pleasant to use with Inertia.js’s smooth transitions.

3. E-commerce Platforms

Product browsing, cart management, and checkout flows become seamless without sacrificing SEO benefits.

4. Content Management Systems

Edit interfaces feel responsive and modern while leveraging Laravel’s robust validation and authorization.

Performance Considerations

Inertia.js applications generally perform very well because:

1. Initial page loads include exactly the data needed
2. Subsequent navigation doesn’t reload scripts and styles
3. Only page components that change are re-rendered
4. Laravel’s server-side rendering can be combined with caching strategies

For even better performance, you can implement:

• Lazy loading of page components
• Partial reloads for certain components
• Server-side caching of common data

Security Benefits

One of the often-overlooked benefits of Inertia.js is security. Since your authentication logic remains server-side, you avoid many of the security pitfalls of traditional SPAs:

• No need to expose API endpoints
• Server-side authorization checks
• CSRF protection built-in
• No token management complexity

Advanced Patterns

As you become more comfortable with Inertia.js, you can explore more advanced patterns:

Shared Layouts

// resources/js/Layouts/App.jsx
export default function Layout({ children }) {
    return (
        <div>
            <header>My App</header>
            <main>{children}</main>
            <footer>© 2025</footer>
        </div>
    );
}

// resources/js/Pages/Dashboard.jsx
import Layout from '../Layouts/App';

function Dashboard() {
    return <h1>Dashboard</h1>;
}

Dashboard.layout = page => <Layout>{page}</Layout>;
export default Dashboard;

Global State Management

Inertia.js works well with React’s Context API or libraries like Zustand for global state:

// resources/js/Context/AppContext.jsx
import { createContext, useContext, useState } from 'react';

const AppContext = createContext();

export function AppProvider({ children }) {
    const [notifications, setNotifications] = useState([]);
    
    return (
        <AppContext.Provider value={{ notifications, setNotifications }}>
            {children}
        </AppContext.Provider>
    );
}

export function useApp() {
    return useContext(AppContext);
}

Shared Components

Building a library of reusable components speeds up development:

// resources/js/Components/Button.jsx
export default function Button({ type = 'button', className = '', processing, children, ...props }) {
    return (
        <button
            type={type}
            className={`bg-blue-500 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded ${processing ? 'opacity-50' : ''} ${className}`}
            disabled={processing}
            {...props}
        >
            {children}
        </button>
    );
}

Resources for Learning More

If you’re interested in exploring Inertia.js further, here are some valuable resources:

• Inertia.js Official Documentation
• Laravel Documentation
• PingCRM Demo – A sample CRM application built with Inertia.js
• JavaScript.info – A great resource for learning modern JavaScript

Conclusion

Inertia.js represents a middle ground between traditional server-rendered applications and SPAs, offering the best aspects of both worlds. By allowing developers to build modern, reactive user interfaces without the complexity of APIs, it simplifies the development process while delivering excellent user experiences.

For Laravel developers who want to leverage React or other modern frontend frameworks without the overhead of building an API, Inertia.js provides a compelling solution. It maintains the simplicity and security benefits of server-side rendering while offering the smooth, responsive feel users expect from modern web applications.

Whether you’re building an admin dashboard, a content management system, or a full-featured web application, Inertia.js with Laravel and React offers a productive and enjoyable development experience with excellent results for your users.