Revolutionizing Routing in Next.js

The Current State of Routing in Next.js

Next.js uses a page-based approach to create routes. Every file and folder in the pages directory corresponds to a new route. This approach has its benefits, but it also comes with some limitations.

One of the main issues is that nested routes can’t share state or layout between them. For example, if you have a dashboard with multiple pages, each page would need to import and render the dashboard layout separately. This can lead to code duplication and make maintenance more difficult.

Introducing the New Routing System

The new routing system aims to address these limitations and provide a more flexible and powerful way of handling routes. Here are some of the key changes:

• Route creation: Instead of relying solely on the pages directory, the new system introduces a new app directory. This allows for backward compatibility and provides a clear separation between old and new routing systems.
• Nested layouts: With the new system, you can create nested layouts by simply placing a layout.js file in the corresponding directory. This layout will be automatically applied to all routes within that directory.
• Dynamic routes: Dynamic routes are now supported, allowing you to create routes with dynamic parameters.

// Example of a dynamic route
import { useParams } from 'next/navigation';

function UserPage() {
  const params = useParams();
  return

Welcome, {params.username}!

;
}

export default UserPage;

Benefits of the New Routing System

With the new routing system, you’ll be able to:

• Create more complex and nested routes with ease
• Share state and layout between routes
• Use dynamic routes to handle complex routing scenarios
• Take advantage of React 18’s new features and server components

// Example of sharing state between routes
import { useState } from 'eact';

function DashboardLayout() {
  const [sidebarOpen, setSidebarOpen] = useState(false);

  return (

  );
}

export default DashboardLayout;