Mastering Jetpack Compose Navigation 3: A Step-by-Step Guide

Jetpack Compose has revolutionized Android UI development with its declarative approach, and the introduction of Navigation 3 at Google I/O 2025 marks a significant evolution in navigation for Compose-based apps. Unlike its predecessor (Navigation 2), Navigation 3 is designed specifically for Compose, offering greater control over the back stack and seamless integration with modern Compose patterns. In this blog, we’ll explore Navigation 3, provide a step-by-step implementation guide, and discuss its pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your Android or Compose Multiplatform project.

What is Jetpack Compose Navigation 3?

Navigation 3 is a Compose-first navigation library that addresses limitations of the earlier Navigation Component (Nav2). It emphasizes developer control over the back stack, modularity, and flexibility for adaptive layouts. Key features include:

• Direct Back Stack Control: You manage the back stack as a SnapshotStateList, allowing precise manipulation.
• Modularity: Navigation logic can be split across modules, improving build times and separation of concerns.
• Adaptive Layouts: Supports multi-pane layouts, such as list-detail views on large screens.
• Customizability: Open APIs allow custom navigation behaviors and animations.

This guide will walk you through setting up a simple app with Navigation 3, demonstrating navigation between screens and passing data.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Let’s build a basic Android app using Jetpack Compose Navigation 3 to navigate between a Home screen and a Product screen, with data passing and back stack management. We’ll use Kotlin and Jetpack Compose.

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

Create a new Android project in Android Studio with Jetpack Compose enabled. Ensure you’re using the latest stable versions of dependencies.

In your build.gradle.kts (app module), add the Navigation 3 dependency:

dependencies {
    implementation("androidx.navigation:navigation-compose:3.0.0-alpha01") // Use the latest alpha version
    implementation("androidx.compose.material3:material3:1.3.0")
}

Sync your project to fetch the dependencies.

Step 2: Define Navigation Routes

Create a file to define your app’s routes. Using a sealed class or data object ensures type safety and clarity.

package com.example.nav3demo

sealed class Screen(val route: String) {
    data object Home : Screen("home")
    data class Product(val id: String) : Screen("product/{$id}")
}

Here, Home is a simple route, while Product accepts a dynamic id parameter.

Step 3: Create the Back Stack

Navigation 3 relies on a SnapshotStateList to manage the back stack. Define it in your main composable.

@Composable
fun Nav3DemoApp() {
    val backStack = remember { mutableStateListOf<Any>(Screen.Home) }
    // Main app content will go here
}

The backStack starts with the Home route and will be updated as the user navigates.

Step 4: Set Up NavDisplay

The NavDisplay composable renders the current screen based on the back stack. Define an entryProvider to map routes to composable content.

@Composable
fun Nav3DemoApp() {
    val backStack = remember { mutableStateListOf<Any>(Screen.Home) }
    
    NavDisplay(
        backStack = backStack,
        onBack = { backStack.removeLastOrNull() },
        entryProvider = { route ->
            when (route) {
                is Screen.Home -> NavEntry { HomeScreen(onNavigateToProduct = { id ->
                    backStack.add(Screen.Product(id))
                }) }
                is Screen.Product -> NavEntry { ProductScreen(id = route.id) }
                else -> null
            }
        }
    )
}

• onBack: Removes the topmost route when the user presses the back button.
• entryProvider: Maps each route to a NavEntry containing the corresponding composable.

Step 5: Create Screen Composables

Define the HomeScreen and ProductScreen composables.

@Composable
fun HomeScreen(onNavigateToProduct: (String) -> Unit) {
    Column(
        modifier = Modifier
            .fillMaxSize()
            .padding(16.dp),
        horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center
    ) {
        Text(text = "Welcome to Home", style = MaterialTheme.typography.headlineMedium)
        Spacer(modifier = Modifier.height(16.dp))
        Button(onClick = { onNavigateToProduct("123") }) {
            Text("Go to Product")
        }
    }
}

@Composable
fun ProductScreen(id: String) {
    Column(
        modifier = Modifier
            .fillMaxSize()
            .padding(16.dp),
        horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center
    ) {
        Text(text = "Product ID: $id", style = MaterialTheme.typography.headlineMedium)
    }
}

• HomeScreen: Displays a button to navigate to the Product screen with a sample ID.
• ProductScreen: Displays the product ID passed via the route.

Step 6: Integrate with MainActivity

Update your MainActivity to set up the Compose UI.

class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContent {
            MaterialTheme {
                Nav3DemoApp()
            }
        }
    }
}

Step 7: Add Custom Animations (Optional)

Navigation 3 makes custom animations straightforward. Modify the NavDisplay to include animations.

NavDisplay(
    backStack = backStack,
    onBack = { backStack.removeLastOrNull() },
    entryProvider = { route ->
        when (route) {
            is Screen.Home -> NavEntry(
                content = { HomeScreen(onNavigateToProduct = { id -> backStack.add(Screen.Product(id)) }) },
                enterTransition = { fadeIn(animationSpec = tween(500)) },
                exitTransition = { fadeOut(animationSpec = tween(500)) }
            )
            is Screen.Product -> NavEntry(
                content = { ProductScreen(id = route.id) },
                enterTransition = { slideInHorizontally(animationSpec = tween(500)) },
                exitTransition = { slideOutHorizontally(animationSpec = tween(500)) }
            )
            else -> null
        }
    }
)

This adds fade animations for the Home screen and slide animations for the Product screen.

Step 8: Test Your App

Run the app. You should see:

• The Home screen with a button.
• Clicking the button navigates to the Product screen, displaying the product ID.
• Pressing the back button returns to the Home screen.

Pros of Jetpack Compose Navigation 3

• Developer-Controlled Back Stack: You own the SnapshotStateList, giving you full control over navigation state, unlike Nav2’s black-box approach.
• Modularity: Navigation logic can be split across feature modules, improving build times and maintainability.
• Adaptive Layouts: Supports multi-pane layouts, ideal for tablets and foldables.
• Customizability: Open APIs allow custom navigation behaviors and animations.
• Compose-First Design: Aligns with Compose’s declarative paradigm, reducing boilerplate compared to Nav2.
• Multiplatform Potential: While still in alpha for Compose Multiplatform, it shows promise for cross-platform navigation.

Cons of Jetpack Compose Navigation 3

• Alpha Stage: As of July 2025, Navigation 3 is in alpha (3.0.0-alpha01), which may include bugs or API changes.
• Learning Curve: The shift to managing your own back stack can be challenging for developers accustomed to Nav2’s NavController.
• Limited Documentation: Being new, comprehensive documentation and community resources are still developing.
• No Visual Graph Editor: Unlike Nav2’s XML-based graphs, Navigation 3 uses Kotlin DSL, lacking a visual editor for navigation flows.
• Multiplatform Maturity: The library is in beta for Compose Multiplatform, potentially limiting its stability for cross-platform projects.

Conclusion

Jetpack Compose Navigation 3 is a powerful, flexible library that empowers developers with fine-grained control over navigation in Compose-based apps. Its Compose-first approach and support for adaptive layouts make it a strong choice for modern Android apps, though its alpha status and learning curve require careful consideration. By following the steps above, you can implement robust navigation flows and leverage Navigation 3’s strengths in your projects.

Try Navigation 3 in your next Android or Compose Multiplatform app, and share your feedback with the community to shape its future! For more details, check the official Navigation 3 documentation or explore sample recipes on GitHub.

Happy coding, and I hope this guide helps you navigate the future of Compose!