nextjs-app-router

Priority: P0 (CRITICAL)

Workflow: Add New Route

1. Create page — Add app/dashboard/page.tsx as Server Component.
2. Add layout — Create app/dashboard/layout.tsx returning {children}.
3. Add loading state — Create app/dashboard/loading.tsx for Suspense boundary.
4. Add error boundary — Create app/dashboard/error.tsx with 'use client' and reset prop.
5. Await async APIs — In Next.js 15+, await params, cookies(), headers().

Route Group Example

See implementation examples

Implementation Guidelines

Routing Architecture

• Structure: Use app/ directory. Define routes with app/dashboard/layout.tsx returning {children}; shared UI nests inside app/layout.tsx automatically. Handle states with loading.tsx, error.tsx, and not-found.tsx.
• Segments: Organize features with Route Groups (brackets (auth)) to excluded from URL path. Use Dynamic Routes (brackets [slug]) and define static paths via generateStaticParams.
• Specialized: Use Parallel Routes (@modal) by adding slot to parent layout and providing default.tsx fallback. Use Intercepting Routes ((.)route) for advanced layouts like dashboards.

Data & Functions

• Next.js 15+ Async: Always await params: Promise, searchParams, cookies(), and headers().
• Security: Use middleware.ts for edge-side authentication and redirection. Ensure all Route Handlers (route.ts) secured with appropriate auth checks.
• RSC: Default to React Server Components (RSC). Only use 'use client' at leaf nodes for interactivity (hooks/events).
• Error Boundaries: Create app/dashboard/loading.tsx to auto-wrap routes in Suspense boundary. In error.tsx, use 'use client' and provide reset: () => void function.

File Conventions

• page.tsx: UI for route.
• layout.tsx: Shared UI wrapping children. Persists across navigation.
• loading.tsx: Suspense boundary for loading states.
• error.tsx: Error boundary (Must Client Component).
• route.ts: Server-side API endpoint.

Structure Patterns

• Route Groups: Use parenthesis (auth) to organize without affecting URL path.
• Private Folders: Use underscore _lib to exclude from routing.
• Dynamic Routes: Use brackets [slug] or [...slug] (catch-all).

Best Practices

• RSC Boundaries: Ensure props passed to Client Components serializable. See RSC Boundaries & Serialization.
• Parallel Routes (@folder): Render multiple pages in same layout. Use default.tsx for fallback.
• Intercepting Routes ((..)folder): Load routes within current layout context.
• Colocation: Keep component files, styles, and tests inside route folder.
• Layouts: Use Root Layout (app/layout.tsx) for <html> and <body> tags.
• Self-Hosting Standard

Anti-Patterns

• No unawaited async APIs: params, cookies(), headers() Promises in Next.js 15+; always await.
• No 'use client' at tree root: Place at leaves; keep layouts and pages as Server Components.
• No <html>/<body> in nested layouts: Only app/layout.tsx (root layout) should include them.
• No missing error.tsx: Every route segment needs Client Component error boundary.