Next.js 14 App Router Overview

1. Introduction

Next.js 14 introduces an enhanced App Router that simplifies routing and component management. This lesson provides a comprehensive overview of its features, setup, and best practices.

2. Key Concepts

App Router

The App Router is a file-based routing system that allows developers to create pages and API routes using a directory structure.

Server Components

Server Components enable rendering parts of the app on the server, improving performance and SEO.

3. Setup

Make sure you have Node.js installed. To create a new Next.js project, run the following command:

npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app

4. Routing

4.1 File-based Routing

Next.js uses the file system to manage routes. Creating a file in the app directory automatically creates a route.

app/
  ├─ page.js        // Home page
  ├─ about/
  │  └─ page.js     // About page

4.2 Dynamic Routing

Dynamic routes can be created using brackets in file names:

app/
  ├─ blog/
  │  └─ [slug]/
  │     └─ page.js  // Dynamic blog post page

4.3 API Routes

API routes can be created in the app/api directory:

app/
  ├─ api/
  │  └─ users/
  │     └─ route.js  // Handles GET requests for users

5. Best Practices

Organize components into subdirectories based on functionality.
Utilize Server Components for data fetching.
Leverage getStaticProps and getServerSideProps for dynamic data.

6. FAQ

What is the App Router?

The App Router is a new way to define routes in Next.js, leveraging the file system for better organization and simplicity.

How do I create a dynamic route?

Dynamic routes can be created by naming your file with square brackets, e.g., [slug].js.

7. Flowchart


        graph TD
            A[Start] --> B{Is page static?}
            B -- Yes --> C[Use Static Generation]
            B -- No --> D{Is data needed?}
            D -- Yes --> E[Use Server-side Rendering]
            D -- No --> F[Render as Client Component]
            C --> G[End]
            E --> G
            F --> G