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+---
+title: Guards
+description: Control access to routes and UI elements using guard functions for permission checks, role-based access, and feature flags
+---
+
+# Guards
+
+Guards are functions that decide whether a user can access a route or see a UI element. They are the primary mechanism in AppShell for implementing permission-based access control, role checks, and feature flags.
+
+## Core Concepts
+
+A guard is a function that receives context data and returns one of three results:
+
+- **`pass()`** — Allow access and continue to the next guard
+- **`hidden()`** — Deny access (route returns 404 / UI element is hidden)
+- **`redirectTo(path)`** — Redirect the user to another path (route guards only)
+
+Guards are evaluated in order. Execution stops at the first non-`pass()` result, so the order you define them in matters.
+
+```typescript
+import { type Guard, pass, hidden, redirectTo } from "@tailor-platform/app-shell";
+
+const requireAuth: Guard = ({ context }) => {
+  return context.currentUser ? pass() : redirectTo("/login");
+};
+
+const requireAdmin: Guard = ({ context }) => {
+  return context.currentUser?.role === "admin" ? pass() : hidden();
+};
+```
+
+## Guard Function Signature
+
+```typescript
+type Guard = (ctx: GuardContext) => GuardResult | Promise<GuardResult>;
+
+type GuardContext = {
+  context: ContextData; // Your custom context passed to AppShell
+};
+
+type GuardResult =
+  | { type: "pass" }                // Allow access
+  | { type: "hidden" }              // Deny access (404 / hide element)
+  | { type: "redirect"; to: string }; // Redirect
+```
+
+Guards can be synchronous or async. Use async guards when you need to make a network request to check permissions.
+
+## Where Guards Can Be Used
+
+AppShell supports guards in two places: on **routes** (modules and resources) and on **UI elements** (via `WithGuard`).
+
+### Route Guards
+
+Attach guards to a module or resource using the `guards` property. Route guards run before the route loads and affect both navigation and URL access.
+
+```tsx
+import { defineModule, defineResource, pass, hidden, redirectTo } from "@tailor-platform/app-shell";
+
+const adminModule = defineModule({
+  path: "admin",
+  component: AdminPage,
+  guards: [requireAuth, requireAdmin],
+});
+
+const settingsResource = defineResource({
+  path: "settings",
+  component: SettingsPage,
+  guards: [requireAuth],
+});
+```
+
+When a route guard returns `hidden()`, AppShell:
+
+- Hides the item from the sidebar navigation
+- Hides the item from CommandPalette search results
+- Returns a 404 if the user navigates directly to the URL
+
+When a route guard returns `redirectTo(path)`, the user is redirected immediately, and the original URL is not accessible.
+
+### Component Guards (`WithGuard`)
+
+Use the `WithGuard` component to conditionally render UI elements based on the same guard functions. This is useful for hiding buttons, sections, or actions that the user does not have permission to use.
+
+```tsx
+import { WithGuard, pass, hidden } from "@tailor-platform/app-shell";
+
+const isAdmin: Guard = ({ context }) =>
+  context.currentUser?.role === "admin" ? pass() : hidden();
+
+function Dashboard() {
+  return (
+    <div>
+      <h1>Dashboard</h1>
+      <WithGuard guards={[isAdmin]}>
+        <Button>Delete All Records</Button>
+      </WithGuard>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+```
+
+> **Note:** `redirectTo()` is not supported inside `WithGuard`. Use `hidden()` with a `fallback` prop to handle alternative content.
+
+## Context Data
+
+Guards receive the `contextData` you pass to `AppShell`. Extend the `AppShellRegister` interface to make context fully typed:
+
+```typescript
+// types.ts
+declare module "@tailor-platform/app-shell" {
+  interface AppShellRegister {
+    contextData: {
+      currentUser: { id: string; role: string } | null;
+      permissions: string[];
+      featureFlags: Record<string, boolean>;
+    };
+  }
+}
+```
+
+```tsx
+// App.tsx
+<AppShell
+  modules={modules}
+  contextData={{
+    currentUser,
+    permissions,
+    featureFlags,
+  }}
+>
+  <SidebarLayout />
+</AppShell>
+```
+
+Guards then have full type safety:
+
+```typescript
+const requirePermission =
+  (perm: string): Guard =>
+  ({ context }) => {
+    // context.permissions is typed as string[]
+    return context.permissions.includes(perm) ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+```
+
+## Common Patterns
+
+### Authentication Check
+
+Redirect unauthenticated users to the login page:
+
+```typescript
+const requireAuth: Guard = ({ context }) => {
+  return context.currentUser ? pass() : redirectTo("/login");
+};
+```
+
+### Role-Based Access
+
+Allow only users with a specific role:
+
+```typescript
+const requireRole =
+  (role: string): Guard =>
+  ({ context }) => {
+    return context.currentUser?.role === role ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+
+// Usage
+guards: [requireAuth, requireRole("admin")];
+```
+
+### Permission-Based Access
+
+Check against a list of permissions:
+
+```typescript
+const requirePermission =
+  (perm: string): Guard =>
+  ({ context }) => {
+    return context.permissions.includes(perm) ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+
+// Usage
+guards: [requireAuth, requirePermission("reports:read")];
+```
+
+### Feature Flags
+
+Toggle routes or UI based on feature flags:
+
+```typescript
+const requireFeature =
+  (flag: string): Guard =>
+  ({ context }) => {
+    return context.featureFlags[flag] ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+
+// Usage
+guards: [requireFeature("new-dashboard")];
+```
+
+### Async Permission Check
+
+Fetch permissions from an API when they are not available in context:
+
+```typescript
+const checkApiPermission: Guard = async ({ context }) => {
+  const { allowed } = await fetch("/api/permissions/reports")
+    .then((r) => r.json());
+  return allowed ? pass() : hidden();
+};
+```
+
+> **Tip:** Async guards add latency. When possible, prefetch permissions and store them in `contextData` so sync guards can check them instantly.
+
+### Tenant Tier
+
+Restrict access based on subscription tier:
+
+```typescript
+const requirePlan =
+  (plan: string): Guard =>
+  async ({ context }) => {
+    const current = await getCurrentTenantPlan();
+    return current === plan ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+
+guards: [requirePlan("enterprise")];
+```
+
+## Building a Reusable Guard Library
+
+Define your guards once and share them across routes and components:
+
+```typescript
+// src/guards.ts
+import { type Guard, pass, hidden, redirectTo } from "@tailor-platform/app-shell";
+
+export const requireAuth: Guard = ({ context }) => {
+  return context.currentUser ? pass() : redirectTo("/login");
+};
+
+export const requireAdmin: Guard = ({ context }) => {
+  return context.currentUser?.role === "admin" ? pass() : hidden();
+};
+
+export const requirePermission =
+  (perm: string): Guard =>
+  ({ context }) => {
+    return context.permissions.includes(perm) ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+
+export const requireFeature =
+  (flag: string): Guard =>
+  ({ context }) => {
+    return context.featureFlags[flag] ? pass() : hidden();
+  };
+```
+
+Use in routes:
+
+```tsx
+import { requireAuth, requireAdmin } from "./guards";
+
+const adminModule = defineModule({
+  path: "admin",
+  component: AdminPage,
+  guards: [requireAuth, requireAdmin],
+});
+```
+
+Use in components (same guards, no duplication):
+
+```tsx
+import { requireAdmin } from "./guards";
+
+<WithGuard guards={[requireAdmin]}>
+  <AdminSettings />
+</WithGuard>
+```
+
+## Guard Evaluation Order
+
+Guards are executed sequentially. If any guard returns a non-`pass()` result, the remaining guards are skipped:
+
+```typescript
+guards: [guardA, guardB, guardC];
+
+// 1. guardA runs → returns pass(), continue
+// 2. guardB runs → returns hidden(), STOP
+// 3. guardC is never evaluated
+```
+
+This means you should put cheap, synchronous guards (like auth checks) before expensive async guards (like API permission checks).
+
+## Route Guards vs Component Guards
+
+| Aspect                      | Route Guards (`defineModule` / `defineResource`) | Component Guards (`WithGuard`)      |
+| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------- |
+| **Applies to**              | Whole route (page)                               | Individual UI element               |
+| **Supports `pass()`**       | ✅ Yes                                           | ✅ Yes                              |
+| **Supports `hidden()`**     | ✅ Yes                                           | ✅ Yes                              |
+| **Supports `redirectTo()`** | ✅ Yes                                           | ❌ No                               |
+| **Execution timing**        | Before the route loads                           | During render                       |
+| **Hides from navigation**   | ✅ Yes (sidebar, CommandPalette)                 | ❌ No (only hides the element)      |
+| **Blocks direct URL access**| ✅ Yes (returns 404)                             | ❌ No                               |
+| **Async support**           | ✅ Yes                                           | ✅ Yes (with `loading` prop)        |
+
+## Best Practices
+
+**Do:**
+- ✅ Build a shared `guards.ts` file and reuse guards across routes and components
+- ✅ Place cheap synchronous guards before expensive async guards
+- ✅ Use descriptive names (`requireAuth`, `requireAdmin`, `requirePermission("x")`)
+- ✅ Provide a `fallback` in `WithGuard` so users know why content is hidden
+- ✅ Show a `loading` state in `WithGuard` when using async guards
+- ✅ Cache expensive API calls in `contextData` so guards can run synchronously
+
+**Don't:**
+- ❌ Use `redirectTo()` inside `WithGuard` (not supported — use `hidden()` instead)
+- ❌ Put side effects like data mutations inside guards
+- ❌ Duplicate permission logic — define it once and import it
+- ❌ Forget that route guards also hide navigation items (sidebar, CommandPalette)
+
+## Related
+
+- [Modules and Resources](./modules-and-resources.md) — how to attach guards to routes
+- [WithGuard Component](../components/with-guard.md) — component-level guard reference
+- [Guards API Overview](../api/guards/overview.md) — full API reference for `pass()`, `hidden()`, `redirectTo()`