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Next.js App Router vs. Pages Router: A Comprehensive Guide

by Gerardo Perrucci
February 28, 2025 · 3 min read

Next.js App Router vs. Pages Router: A Comprehensive Guide

Next.js, a popular React framework, offers two primary routing mechanisms: the Pages Router and the App Router. Understanding the distinctions between these routers is crucial for developers aiming to build efficient and scalable web applications.

App router vs Pages router

Versions

  • Next.js: 13+ (for App Router)
  • React: 18.x

1. Pages Router: The Traditional Approach

The Pages Router utilizes a file-based routing system. Each file within the pages directory automatically corresponds to a route in the application. For instance, a file named about.js in the pages directory becomes accessible at the /about URL.

Advantages:

  • Simplicity: Ideal for static sites or applications with straightforward routing needs.
  • Automatic Routing: No additional configuration is required; the file structure dictates the routing.

Limitations:

  • Limited Flexibility: As applications grow in complexity, managing deeply nested routes and layouts can become challenging.
  • Data Fetching: Server-side data fetching requires specific functions like getServerSideProps or getStaticProps, which can lead to verbose code.

2. App Router: The Modern Solution

Introduced in Next.js 13, the App Router offers a more flexible and powerful approach to routing. It employs a folder-based routing system, allowing for nested layouts and more granular control over routing.

Advantages:

  • Enhanced Flexibility: Supports complex layouts and deeply nested routes, making it suitable for large-scale applications.
  • Server Components: Utilizes React Server Components, enabling server-side rendering by default and improving performance.
  • Simplified Data Fetching: Data fetching is integrated within components using async functions, streamlining the process.

Limitations:

  • Learning Curve: The new structure and concepts may require a period of adjustment for developers familiar with the Pages Router.
  • Potential Overhead: For simple applications, the added complexity might not be necessary.

3. Data Fetching: A Comparative Analysis

In the Pages Router, data fetching is handled using functions like getServerSideProps or getStaticProps. For example:

// pages/posts.js
export default function PostsPage({ posts }) {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Posts</h1>
      <ul>
        {posts.map(post => (
          <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

export async function getServerSideProps() {
  const res = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts');
  const posts = await res.json();

  return {
    props: {
      posts,
    },
  };
}

In contrast, the App Router allows for data fetching directly within components using async functions:

// app/posts/page.js
export default async function PostsPage() {
  const res = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts');
  const posts = await res.json();

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Posts</h1>
      <ul>
        {posts.map(post => (
          <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

This approach simplifies the data fetching process and enhances code readability.

4. Choosing the Right Router

The decision between the Pages Router and the App Router depends on the specific needs of your project:

  • For Simple Applications: The Pages Router's straightforward approach is beneficial for static sites or applications with basic routing requirements.
  • For Complex Applications: The App Router's flexibility and advanced features make it suitable for large-scale applications requiring dynamic layouts and server-side rendering.

Conclusion

Both the Pages Router and the App Router in Next.js have their merits. The choice between them should be guided by the complexity of your project and your team's familiarity with the framework. As Next.js continues to evolve, the App Router is poised to become the standard for building modern web applications.

Additional Resources