Understanding Pages and Routing in Next.js (Beginner Guide)
If you want to build modern React applications efficiently, understanding pages and routing in Next.js is essential. Next.js uses a powerful and intuitive file-based routing system that makes navigation and page creation extremely simple. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about understanding pages and routing in Next.js with clear examples.
What Is the Pages Router in Next.js?
Before understanding pages and routing in Next.js, you must know that Next.js automatically creates routes based on the folder structure inside the pages/ directory.
That means:
- No need to manually create route files
- No need for React Router
- Simple and clean file-based routing
This is why it becomes so easy for beginners.
How Pages Work in Next.js
Inside the pages/ folder, every .js or .tsx file becomes a route.
Example:
pages/index.js → /
pages/about.js → /about
This simple rule forms the core of this.
Dynamic Routing in Next.js
Dynamic routing is important for building blogs, product pages, or any page that depends on a variable parameter.
Example:
pages/blog/[id].js → /blog/101
Here, [id] is dynamic.
This concept is extremely important for this topic because it lets you build flexible pages easily.
Nested Routing
You can create folders inside pages/ to make nested or child routes.
Example:
pages/dashboard/settings/profile.js → /dashboard/settings/profile
Nested structures help you with advanced in this, especially for large apps.
Catch-All Routes
For routes that require multiple dynamic segments, use:
pages/blog/[…slug].js → /blog/2025/new/updates
This is useful for SEO-friendly blog structures and important when it for real-world applications.
Linking Pages Using <Link>
Next.js provides the <Link> component to navigate between pages without full reloads.
import Link from ‘next/link‘;
export default function Home() {
return (
<div>
<Link href=”/about”>Go to About</Link>
</div>
);
}
Using <Link> is a key part of this because it ensures faster client-side transitions.
Custom 404 Page
To create a custom error page:
pages/404.js
This enhances user experience and is another important aspect of this routing.
API Routes (Bonus)
Inside pages/api/, every file becomes an API endpoint.
Example:
pages/api/hello.js → /api/hello
Although not directly a page route, it’s good to know while understanding pages and routing in Next.js.
Conclusion
With this beginner-friendly tutorial, you now have a strong foundation for understanding pages and routing in Next.js. Whether it’s simple pages, dynamic routes, nested routes, or link navigation—Next.js makes everything easy with its file-based routing system.