Can I Use React Router Dom in Next JS

Can I Use React Router Dom in Next JS

When developing modern web applications, both React Router DOM and Next.js are popular tools for managing navigation and routing. React Router DOM is the standard routing library for React applications, while Next.js offers its own powerful, built-in routing system.

However, many developers transitioning from React to Next.js often wonder: "Can I use React Router DOM in Next.js?"

The short answer is: technically yes, but you shouldn't. Next.js has its own file-based routing mechanism that is more efficient, optimized for server-side rendering (SSR), and deeply integrated into the framework's ecosystem. In this article, we'll explain why using React Router DOM in Next.js is not recommended, how Next.js routing works, and what the best practices are for navigation and dynamic routes.

Understanding the Basics: React Router DOM vs. Next.js Router

Before comparing both approaches, it's essential to understand what each routing system does.

React Router DOM

React Router DOM is a client-side routing library for React. It allows developers to handle navigation without full page reloads using components like:

import { BrowserRouter, Route, Routes } from "react-router-dom";

It manages routes in the browser using the History API and works perfectly for single-page applications (SPAs). Developers define routes manually in JSX and control navigation using <Link> or useNavigate().

Next.js Development

On the other hand, Next.js Development provides a file-system-based development. Every file you create inside the pages/ directory automatically becomes a route. For example:

Navigation is handled using the built-in next/link and next/development modules, which provide server-side rendering, static site generation, and SEO-friendly routing out of the box.

Can You Use React Router DOM in Next.js?

Yes, you can technically install and use React Router DOM in a Next.js project. However, it goes against the core architecture and purpose of Next.js. Next.js expects routing to be handled by its internal system. When you introduce React Router DOM, you're layering two routing systems --- which can lead to conflicts and inefficiencies.

Here's what happens if you try to mix them:

• Routing Conflicts: Both systems try to control navigation and rendering.\
• Loss of Server-Side Rendering Benefits: React Router DOM is client-side only, meaning your Next.js pages won't be pre-rendered for SEO.\
• Build Complexity: You'll need extra configuration to make React Router DOM work correctly.\
• Inconsistent URLs: Dynamic routes and parameters may not sync properly with Next.js routes.

In short, while it's possible to make React Router DOM work in Next.js, it's not practical or recommended.

Example: Attempting to Use React Router DOM in Next.js

Let's see what it might look like if you force React Router DOM into a Next.js setup:

// pages/_app.js
import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from "react-router-dom";
import Home from "./home";
import About from "./about";

export default function App() {
  return (
    <BrowserRouter>
      <Routes>
        <Route path="/" element={<Home />} />
        <Route path="/about" element={<About />} />
      </Routes>
    </BrowserRouter>
  );
}

This approach technically works --- but you lose key Next.js benefits like:

• Server-side rendering (SSR)\
• Static site generation (SSG)\
• Automatic code splitting\
• Image optimization\
• Middleware and API routes integration

Essentially, you're turning your Next.js app back into a React SPA, defeating the purpose of using Next.js in the first place.

Why Next.js Has Its Own Router

Next.js was designed to simplify React development and make web apps faster, SEO-friendly, and scalable. Its router integrates deeply with SSR, SSG, and ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration). This ensures:

• Automatic SEO optimization through pre-rendered HTML pages.\
• Better performance via static generation.\
• Cleaner code structure with no need for manual routing setup.\
• Built-in support for dynamic routes and nested layouts.

By relying on its native router, you get all these advantages without the complexity of managing another routing library.

How to Use Routing in Next.js the Right Way

Instead of using React Router DOM, you should embrace Next.js's file-based routing. Let's look at how it works in detail.

1. Static Routes

Every file in the pages/ directory becomes a route automatically.

Example:

pages/
  index.js       →  /
  about.js       →  /about
  contact.js     →  /contact

If you visit /about, Next.js automatically loads the about.js page.

2. Dynamic Routes

You can create dynamic routes using brackets.

Example:

pages/blog/[id].js

This maps to /blog/1 or /blog/2, and you can access the id parameter using useRouter():

import { useRouter } from "next/router";

export default function BlogPost() {
  const router = useRouter();
  const { id } = router.query;

  return <h1>Blog Post {id}</h1>;
}

3. Catch-All Routes

To handle nested routes or slugs, you can use catch-all syntax:

pages/docs/[...slug].js

This allows URLs like /docs/react/router or /docs/nextjs/routing.

4. Navigating Between Pages

Instead of using <Link> from React Router, Next.js provides its own <Link> component:

import Link from "next/link";

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Home Page</h1>
      <Link href="/about">Go to About</Link>
    </div>
  );
}

You can also navigate programmatically:

import { useRouter } from "next/router";

const router = useRouter();
router.push("/contact");

5. Nested Layouts (Next.js 13 and beyond)

With the introduction of the App Router (in Next.js 13+), you can now create nested layouts and advanced routing using the /app directory. It's even more powerful and modular.

Example structure:

app/
  layout.js
  page.js
  about/
    page.js
  blog/
    [id]/
      page.js

This approach provides enhanced flexibility while maintaining SSR and SEO advantages.

Advantages of Using the Next.js Router

Switching to the built-in Next.js router gives you multiple long-term benefits:

1. SEO-Friendly: Pages are pre-rendered with actual HTML content, improving search rankings.\
2. Performance Optimization: Automatic code splitting ensures faster load times.\
3. Simplified Project Structure: No manual routing configuration needed.\
4. Scalability: Ideal for both small apps and enterprise-level projects.\
5. Enhanced Developer Experience: Less boilerplate and more focus on features.

Common Mistakes Developers Make

Many React developers transitioning to Next.js mistakenly install React Router DOM because they're used to it. Here are a few common pitfalls:

• Treating Next.js like a traditional React app.\
• Forgetting about SSR and SSG benefits.\
• Using BrowserRouter instead of relying on next/router.\
• Duplicating routes that already exist in the pages/ folder.

The correct approach is to fully adopt Next.js routing and leverage its native features.

Migration Tip: Moving from React Router DOM to Next.js Router

If you're migrating from a React project that uses React Router DOM, follow these steps:

1. Remove React Router DOM from dependencies.\
2. Move each route into a separate file inside the pages/ directory.\
3. Replace <Link> with next/link.\
4. Replace useNavigate() with router.push().\
5. Test navigation to ensure SSR works as expected.

Once migrated, you'll notice improved performance, better SEO, and simpler code management.

When Would You Ever Use React Router in Next.js?

There are very few use cases where it might make sense:

• Microfrontends: If React Router is used in a small, isolated part of your app embedded in a Next.js project.\
• Hybrid Applications: When combining legacy React code with new Next.js features temporarily.

However, these are niche cases --- and even then, most developers eventually migrate everything to Next.js routing.

Hire Experts for Next.js and React Development

If you're unsure how to properly implement routing or migrate your project from React Router DOM to Next.js, working with experienced professionals can save you time and headaches.

You can hire AAMAX for expert MERN Stack Development services. AAMAX is a full-service digital marketing company offering Web Development, Digital Marketing, and SEO Services. The AAMAX team can help you build or migrate applications using best practices --- ensuring your Next.js setup is fast, scalable, and SEO-optimized.

Final Thoughts

So, can you use React Router DOM in Next.js? Yes, but you shouldn't. While it's technically possible, doing so negates the main advantages of Next.js, including server-side rendering, SEO benefits, and simplified routing. Instead, leverage Next.js's native routing system --- it's cleaner, more powerful, and built specifically for modern web performance.

If you're moving from React to Next.js, embrace the new architecture. With its file-based router, dynamic routing, and app directory system, Next.js eliminates the need for third-party routing libraries.

And when you're ready to take your project to the next level, consider partnering with AAMAX for full-stack, SEO-optimized web development solutions that combine performance, design, and marketing excellence.