nextjs-best-practices

To decide between server and client components in Next.js, evaluate data fetching needs and interactivity. Use server components for data fetching and static rendering, and switch to client components only when you need state, event handlers, or browser APIs.

The best data fetching patterns for Next.js include default caching for static data, ISR for periodic updates, and no-store for dynamic, real-time data. Choose your fetching strategy based on how frequently your underlying data changes.

Organize Next.js routing conventions by placing layout.tsx for shared UI, page.tsx for route content, loading.tsx for pending states, error.tsx for error boundaries, and not-found.tsx for 404 handling within each route directory.

Common Next.js App Router anti-patterns to avoid include unnecessary client-side data fetching, improper metadata handling, missing loading or error boundaries, and overusing client components, which degrades performance and bypasses built-in caching optimizations.

Yes, Next.js App Router supports API routes and Server Actions. You can define route handlers for HTTP endpoints and use Server Actions to mutate data directly from client components without writing separate API endpoints.

Optimize Next.js performance and caching by leveraging server components, configuring ISR or default fetch caching, implementing proper metadata, and structuring routes with loading.tsx to improve perceived page load speeds.