nextjs-app-router

Development

Deep expertise in Next.js App Router patterns including route groups, parallel routes, intercepting routes, layouts, and loading states.

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Next.js App Router Skill

Expert assistance for implementing Next.js App Router with advanced routing patterns and conventions.

Capabilities

Design app directory structure with route groups
Implement parallel and intercepting routes
Configure layouts, templates, and loading states
Set up error boundaries and not-found pages
Implement streaming with Suspense
Configure route handlers for API endpoints

Usage

Invoke this skill when you need to:

Structure app directory for complex routing
Implement modal routes with interception
Create parallel route layouts
Configure streaming and loading states
Build API route handlers

Inputs

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
routeType	string	Yes	page, layout, route, loading, error
routePath	string	Yes	Route path in app directory
features	array	No	parallel, intercept, group
streaming	boolean	No	Enable streaming with Suspense

Configuration Example

{
  "routeType": "page",
  "routePath": "/dashboard/analytics",
  "features": ["parallel", "loading"],
  "streaming": true
}

Route Structure Patterns

Route Groups

app/
├── (auth)/
│   ├── login/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   ├── register/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   └── layout.tsx          # Auth-specific layout
├── (dashboard)/
│   ├── analytics/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   ├── settings/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   └── layout.tsx          # Dashboard layout with sidebar
├── (marketing)/
│   ├── about/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   ├── pricing/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   └── layout.tsx          # Marketing layout
└── layout.tsx              # Root layout

Parallel Routes

app/
├── @modal/
│   ├── (.)photos/[id]/
│   │   └── page.tsx        # Modal view
│   └── default.tsx
├── @sidebar/
│   ├── default.tsx
│   └── feed/
│       └── page.tsx
├── photos/
│   └── [id]/
│       └── page.tsx        # Full page view
├── layout.tsx
└── page.tsx

// app/layout.tsx
export default function Layout({
  children,
  modal,
  sidebar,
}: {
  children: React.ReactNode;
  modal: React.ReactNode;
  sidebar: React.ReactNode;
}) {
  return (
    <html>
      <body>
        <div className="flex">
          <aside>{sidebar}</aside>
          <main>{children}</main>
        </div>
        {modal}
      </body>
    </html>
  );
}

Intercepting Routes

app/
├── @modal/
│   └── (.)photos/[id]/     # Intercept from same level
│       └── page.tsx
├── feed/
│   └── @modal/
│       └── (..)photos/[id]/ # Intercept from parent
│           └── page.tsx
└── photos/
    └── [id]/
        └── page.tsx

// app/@modal/(.)photos/[id]/page.tsx
import { Modal } from '@/components/modal';
import Photo from '@/components/photo';

export default function PhotoModal({
  params: { id },
}: {
  params: { id: string };
}) {
  return (
    <Modal>
      <Photo id={id} />
    </Modal>
  );
}

Loading and Error States

// app/dashboard/loading.tsx
export default function DashboardLoading() {
  return (
    <div className="animate-pulse">
      <div className="h-8 bg-gray-200 rounded w-1/4 mb-4" />
      <div className="h-64 bg-gray-200 rounded" />
    </div>
  );
}

// app/dashboard/error.tsx
'use client';

export default function DashboardError({
  error,
  reset,
}: {
  error: Error & { digest?: string };
  reset: () => void;
}) {
  return (
    <div className="p-4 bg-red-50 rounded">
      <h2 className="text-red-800 font-bold">Something went wrong!</h2>
      <p className="text-red-600">{error.message}</p>
      <button
        onClick={reset}
        className="mt-2 px-4 py-2 bg-red-600 text-white rounded"
      >
        Try again
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

Route Handlers

// app/api/users/route.ts
import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
  const searchParams = request.nextUrl.searchParams;
  const query = searchParams.get('query');

  const users = await db.user.findMany({
    where: query ? { name: { contains: query } } : undefined,
  });

  return NextResponse.json(users);
}

export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
  const body = await request.json();

  const user = await db.user.create({
    data: body,
  });

  return NextResponse.json(user, { status: 201 });
}

// app/api/users/[id]/route.ts
export async function GET(
  request: NextRequest,
  { params }: { params: { id: string } }
) {
  const user = await db.user.findUnique({
    where: { id: params.id },
  });

  if (!user) {
    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'User not found' },
      { status: 404 }
    );
  }

  return NextResponse.json(user);
}

Streaming with Suspense

// app/dashboard/page.tsx
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { Analytics, RecentActivity, Stats } from '@/components';
import { StatsSkeleton, ActivitySkeleton } from '@/components/skeletons';

export default function Dashboard() {
  return (
    <div className="grid gap-4">
      <Suspense fallback={<StatsSkeleton />}>
        <Stats />
      </Suspense>

      <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
        <Suspense fallback={<ActivitySkeleton />}>
          <RecentActivity />
        </Suspense>

        <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading analytics...</div>}>
          <Analytics />
        </Suspense>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Best Practices

Use route groups to organize without affecting URL
Implement loading.tsx for immediate feedback
Use error.tsx for graceful error handling
Leverage parallel routes for complex layouts
Use intercepting routes for modal patterns

Target Processes

nextjs-full-stack
frontend-architecture-design
app-router-migration
performance-optimization

Other versions