Next.js 13 – Routing, Folder Structure, Pages and Layouts Explained

Next.js is a popular React framework for building web applications. With the release of Next.js 13, there are some significant changes to routing, folder structure, pages, and layouts. In this article, we will explore these changes and understand how they can be leveraged to build better web applications.

Routing

In Next.js 13, routing has been improved with the introduction of “automatic route imports”. This means that you no longer need to manually import your routes using the “import” statement. Instead, Next.js will automatically import your routes based on the file structure of your pages. This simplifies the process of defining routes and makes it easier to manage large applications.

Folder Structure

The folder structure in Next.js 13 has also been improved to better organize code. The “pages” directory is now the main entry point for defining routes and handling page components. Additionally, there is a new “layouts” directory that allows you to define reusable layouts for your pages. This makes it easier to maintain consistent design and layout across your application.

Pages

Next.js 13 introduces a new “getLayout” method that allows you to define a layout for individual pages. This gives you more flexibility in organizing your page layouts and makes it easier to update them in the future. Additionally, the “useRouter” hook has been improved to provide better access to route parameters and query strings, making it easier to handle dynamic routing in your application.

Layouts

The introduction of the “layouts” directory in Next.js 13 allows you to define reusable layouts for your pages. This can be especially useful for defining common header and footer components that need to be shared across multiple pages. By organizing layouts in a separate directory, it becomes easier to manage and maintain them as your application grows.

Overall, Next.js 13 brings several improvements to routing, folder structure, pages, and layouts. These changes make it easier to build and maintain web applications, while also providing more flexibility in organizing and managing your code. With these improvements, Next.js continues to be a powerful framework for building modern web applications.