nextjs-best-practices

Next.js App Router uses file-based routing with page.tsx for pages, layout.tsx for shared structure, loading.tsx for suspense boundaries, error.tsx for error handling, and not-found.tsx for 404s. Organize routes in nested folders to create your site structure, then place these special files to define behavior at each level.

Server components handle data fetching, database access, and backend logic by default in Next.js App Router. Use client components only for interactivity, event listeners, and browser APIs. This separation optimizes rendering, reduces client-side JavaScript, and improves performance.

Next.js App Router supports three strategies: Static (cached by default), ISR (revalidate at intervals), and no-store (fetch fresh on every request). Choose static for static content, ISR for frequently updated data, and no-store for real-time information like user-specific or time-sensitive data.

Use shared layouts to wrap multiple routes with common structure, move interactive elements into client components, and fetch data in server components at the layout or page level. This pattern ensures each section inherits consistent rendering and reduces prop drilling.

Yes. A route can contain server components with both static fetch calls and dynamic no-store calls. However, if any component uses no-store, the entire route becomes dynamic. Use ISR or selective revalidation to balance freshness and performance across mixed data patterns.

Follow Next.js conventions: use page.tsx for content, layout.tsx for shared UI at each level, group related routes in folders, and place error and loading handlers at appropriate nesting levels. This structure scales cleanly and makes data-fetching decisions transparent across the app.