Page Router vs. App Router in Next.js: What's the Difference?
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Next.js has evolved significantly over the years, and one of the biggest changes came with Next.js 13—the introduction of the App Router.
If you're wondering whether to stick with the Page Router or switch to the new App Router, this blog will clear up the confusion!
📌 What is the Difference Between Page Router and App Router?
Next.js now has two ways to define routes in your application:
- Page Router (pages/ directory) → The traditional Next.js routing system used before Next.js 13.
- App Router (app/ directory) → The modern approach introduced in Next.js 13, leveraging React Server Components and improved performance techniques.
Let’s break it down with a simple analogy!
🍽️ Analogy: A Traditional Restaurant vs. A Modern Buffet
Imagine you're running a restaurant and serving food to customers.
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Page Router = Traditional Restaurant 🍛
- Customers (users) order from a fixed menu (file-based routes).
- The kitchen (server) prepares a whole dish (full page reload) whenever a customer places an order.
- Even if only a small item changes, the kitchen remakes the entire dish (full page render).
- The process works, but it can be inefficient.
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App Router = Modern Buffet with Live Stations 🍱
- Customers can pick only what they need (React Server Components + Partial Rendering).
- Some dishes are pre-made (Server Components), while others are made fresh (Client Components).
- If a customer wants a minor change (like extra sauce), only that part is updated (granular rendering).
- The kitchen is optimized—some food is prepared ahead of time, and some is cooked on demand.
🛠️ Feature Comparison: Page Router vs. App Router
❌ Features Removed in App Router:
- getServerSideProps, getStaticProps, getInitialProps (Replaced with Server Components & fetch())
- _app.js and _document.js (Replaced with layout.tsx)
- Link requiring prefetch={false} (Now automatic prefetching)
✅ New Features Added in App Router:
- Server Components (Default) → Smaller bundle size, better performance.
- Client Components ("use client") → When interactivity is needed.
- Streaming & Suspense → Pages load faster with automatic streaming.
- loading.tsx & error.tsx → Built-in loading & error handling.
- Server Actions → Handle mutations without API routes.
🔥 Which One Should You Use?
- If migrating an old project → Stick with Page Router (pages/) for now.
- For new projects → Use App Router (app/) for better performance.
- If you need full control over rendering → App Router is better because it optimizes Server & Client rendering automatically.
🚀 Conclusion
The App Router is the future of Next.js, offering better performance, smaller bundle sizes, and more efficient server-side rendering. If you’re starting a new project, definitely go for the App Router! If you have an existing Next.js project, consider migrating when the time is right.
💬 What are your thoughts on the new Next.js App Router? Are you planning to switch? Let’s discuss in the comments!