Next.js Pages and Layouts

Heading H1

Next.js is a popular React-based framework used for building server-rendered applications. It provides the ability to easily define page structures, including layouts, using built-in features. This article will cover how to define pages and layouts in a Next.js application and how to make use of them.

Syntax

In Next.js, pages and layouts are defined as React components. To define a page, create a new file in the pages/ directory of your Next.js application. The file's name represents the page's URL path. For example, /about would be defined in pages/about.js.

To define a layout, create a new file in the layouts/ directory of your Next.js application. The layout should be a higher-order component that wraps the content of each page.

Example

Here's an example of how to define a page in Next.js:

const AboutPage = () => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>About Us</h1>
      <p>We are a company that creates amazing software.</p>
    </div>
  );
};

export default AboutPage;

Here's an example of how to define a layout in Next.js:

const MainLayout = ({ children }) => {
  return (
    <div>
      <nav>
        <ul>
          <li>
            <Link href="/">Home</Link>
          </li>
          <li>
            <Link href="/about">About</Link>
          </li>
        </ul>
      </nav>
      <main>{children}</main>
    </div>
  );
};

export default MainLayout;

Output

When accessing the /about page, the output will be:

About Us
We are a company that creates amazing software.

Explanation

Pages in a Next.js application serve as the entry point for loading components and data onto a page. This is where the routing and rendering logic is defined. Layouts, on the other hand, are used to define the structure of the page, such as header and footer, and are reused across multiple pages.

Use

Defining pages and layouts in Next.js can help improve the structure and maintainability of your application, allowing you to write reusable components. It also provides a way to help group and organize routes and provide consistent shared design settings for pages.

Important Points

• Pages are defined as React components and are placed in the pages/ directory with a file name representing the page's URL path.
• Layouts are defined as higher-order components, placed in the layouts/ directory, and wrap the content of each page.
• Next.js uses a filesystem-based router to automatically map components to routes.
• Using layouts can help improve code reusability and maintainability.

Summary

Next.js provides a simple and effective way to define pages and layouts in a server-rendered application. Pages serve as the logic for rendering the content, while layouts provide the structure for multiple pages. Understanding how to define pages and layouts in Next.js can help improve the maintainability and scalability of an application.