thedixitjain Next.js Route Handlers
Overview
Route Handlers allow you to create API endpoints using the Web Request and Response APIs. They're defined in route.ts files within the app directory.
Basic Structure
File Convention
Route handlers use route.ts (or route.js):
app/
├── api/
│ ├── users/
│ │ └── route.ts # /api/users
│ └── posts/
│ ├── route.ts # /api/posts
│ └── [id]/
│ └── route.ts # /api/posts/:id
HTTP Methods
Export functions named after HTTP methods:
// app/api/users/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'
export async function GET() {
const users = await db.user.findMany()
return NextResponse.json(users)
}
export async function POST(request: Request) {
const body = await request.json()
const user = await db.user.create({ data: body })
return NextResponse.json(user, { status: 201 })
}
Supported methods: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Request Handling
Reading Request Body
export async function POST(request: Request) {
// JSON body
const json = await request.json()
// Form data
const formData = await request.formData()
const name = formData.get('name')
// Text body
const text = await request.text()
return NextResponse.json({ received: true })
}
URL Parameters
Dynamic route parameters:
// app/api/posts/[id]/route.ts
interface RouteContext {
params: Promise<{ id: string }>
}
export async function GET(
request: Request,
context: RouteContext
) {
const { id } = await context.params
const post = await db.post.findUnique({ where: { id } })
if (!post) {
return NextResponse.json(
{ error: 'Not found' },
{ status: 404 }
)
}
return NextResponse.json(post)
}
Query Parameters
export async function GET(request: Request) {
const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url)
const page = searchParams.get('page') ?? '1'
const limit = searchParams.get('limit') ?? '10'
const posts = await db.post.findMany({
skip: (parseInt(page) - 1) * parseInt(limit),
take: parseInt(limit),
})
return NextResponse.json(posts)
}
Request Headers
export async function GET(request: Request) {
const authHeader = request.headers.get('authorization')
if (!authHeader?.startsWith('Bearer ')) {
return NextResponse.json(
{ error: 'Unauthorized' },
{ status: 401 }
)
}
const token = authHeader.split(' ')[1]
// Validate token...
return NextResponse.json({ authenticated: true })
}
Response Handling
JSON Response
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'
export async function GET() {
return NextResponse.json(
{ message: 'Hello' },
{ status: 200 }
)
}
Setting Headers
export async function GET() {
return NextResponse.json(
{ data: 'value' },
{
headers: {
'Cache-Control': 'max-age=3600',
'X-Custom-Header': 'custom-value',
},
}
)
}
Setting Cookies
import { cookies } from 'next/headers'
export async function POST(request: Request) {
const cookieStore = await cookies()
// Set cookie
cookieStore.set('session', 'abc123', {
httpOnly: true,
secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production',
sameSite: 'lax',
maxAge: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7, // 1 week
})
return NextResponse.json({ success: true })
}
Redirects
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation'
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'
export async function GET() {
// Option 1: redirect function (throws)
redirect('/login')
// Option 2: NextResponse.redirect
return NextResponse.redirect(new URL('/login', request.url))
}
Streaming Responses
Text Streaming
export async function GET() {
const encoder = new TextEncoder()
const stream = new ReadableStream({
async start(controller) {
for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
controller.enqueue(encoder.encode(`data: ${i}\n\n`))
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 100))
}
controller.close()
},
})
return new Response(stream, {
headers: {
'Content-Type': 'text/event-stream',
'Cache-Control': 'no-cache',
'Connection': 'keep-alive',
},
})
}
AI/LLM Streaming
export async function POST(request: Request) {
const { prompt } = await request.json()
const response = await openai.chat.completions.create({
model: 'gpt-4',
messages: [{ role: 'user', content: prompt }],
stream: true,
})
const stream = new ReadableStream({
async start(controller) {
for await (const chunk of response) {
const text = chunk.choices[0]?.delta?.content || ''
controller.enqueue(new TextEncoder().encode(text))
}
controller.close()
},
})
return new Response(stream, {
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' },
})
}
CORS Configuration
export async function OPTIONS() {
return new Response(null, {
status: 204,
headers: {
'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
'Access-Control-Allow-Methods': 'GET, POST, PUT, DELETE',
'Access-Control-Allow-Headers': 'Content-Type, Authorization',
},
})
}
export async function GET() {
return NextResponse.json(
{ data: 'value' },
{
headers: {
'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
},
}
)
}
Caching
Static (Default for GET)
// Cached by default
export async function GET() {
const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
return NextResponse.json(await data.json())
}
Opt-out of Caching
export const dynamic = 'force-dynamic'
export async function GET() {
// Always fresh
}
// Or use cookies/headers (auto opts out)
import { cookies } from 'next/headers'
export async function GET() {
const cookieStore = await cookies()
// Now dynamic
}
Error Handling
export async function GET(request: Request) {
try {
const data = await riskyOperation()
return NextResponse.json(data)
} catch (error) {
console.error('API Error:', error)
if (error instanceof ValidationError) {
return NextResponse.json(
{ error: error.message },
{ status: 400 }
)
}
return NextResponse.json(
{ error: 'Internal Server Error' },
{ status: 500 }
)
}
}
Resources
For detailed patterns, see:
references/http-methods.md- Complete HTTP method guidereferences/streaming-responses.md- Advanced streaming patternsexamples/crud-api.md- Full CRUD API example
Source: davepoon/buildwithclaude → plugins/nextjs-expert/skills/route-handlers/SKILL.md