Nextjs – Appending A Query Param To A Dynamic Route

Consider the following table which explains the key concepts related to this topic:

Taking advantage of Next.js dynamic routing happens by creating a page with a file path `pages/post/[id].js`, here `[id]` is a dynamic segment and will match any route like `/post/1`, `/post/abc` and so on. Hence, our URL becomes dynamic.

To append a query parameter to a dynamic route, you can use the Next.js `router.push()` method. In a functional component, you may have an example like this:

const router = useRouter();
 
const handleOnClick = () => {
  router.push({
    pathname: '/post/[id]',
    query: { id: '123', extra: 'yes' },
  });
}

In the above code, `useRouter()` is a custom hook that gives you access to the router object. `router.push()` is used to append the query parameter. Here we have appended “extra=yes” to the URL. On clicking an element (Button/Link), it will navigate to the path “/post/123?extra=yes”.

Appending a query parameter to a dynamic route in Next.js is quite intuitive. It takes advantage of JavaScript’s flexibility and Next.js’s designed ease of usage to deliver on powerful functionality.

Peter Wilson, an acclaimed technologist once said – “The subtlety of web development really shows when working with dynamic URLs and routing. Understanding them can open up new experimental playgrounds.” Remembering this can be handy when tackling complex challenges related to routes and parameters while developing applications using Next.js.

Leveraging Dynamic Routes in Next.js

Dynamic routing is a quintessential feature in Next.js, which brings immense power and flexibility to routing for React applications. Speaking specifically about appending a query parameter to a dynamic route, several nuances of Next.js become apparent.

Diving into Dynamic Routes

Next.js uses a filesystem based routing mechanism, meaning the pages inside the

pages/

directory structure essentially determine the routes of a Next.js application.
For instance, a page named

pages/posts/[id].js

, conveys an indication that it represents a dynamic route

/posts/:id

.

However, when you have a requirement to append a query parameter to a dynamic route, you need to take additional measures which we will discuss next.

Appending Query Parameters

In order to append a query parameter to a dynamic route, you would typically use the

next/link

or

next/router

packages within your Next.js application.

Utilizing the Link component from

next/link

, a new href can be formed which includes both the dynamic path and a query string paramater concatenated:

<Link href={`/posts/${postId}?comment=open`}  >
      <a>Title</a> 
</Link>

The term ‘open’ is an example of a query string parameter being appended to a dynamic route.

Alternatively, the useRouter hook provided by

next/router

can also cater to this scenario:

import { useRouter } from 'next/router'
...
const router = useRouter()
router.push(`/post/${id}?comment=${commentId}`)

This approach offers direct programmatic navigation capability with your newly-formulated query parameter added to the dynamic route.

Retrieving the Query Parameter

The same

useRouter

hook can be employed to access the query parameter within the component:

const router = useRouter()
console.log(router.query.comment)

As you’ll find, this will log the comment’s value from the URL.

Let me cite a quote by Brendan Eich, the creator of JavaScript; he once said: “Always bet on JavaScript”. Here, it resonates rightly so, with Next.js – being built on JavaScript – offering an extensive routing mechanism allowing developers to cater sophisticated app structures in elegant and maintainable ways.

References:

For more detailed analysis you can check Next.js Official Documentation: Dynamic Routes.

Implementing Query Parameters in your Next.js Application

Appending a query parameter to a dynamic route in your Next.js application is an integral aspect of efficient web development. By utilizing query parameters, developers can enhance their applications by offering flexible navigation patterns, improved state management, and more intuitive user interfaces.

A typical URL including a dynamic route and a query parameter could look like this: `https://yourwebsite.com/user/[id]?display=full`. Here, the `[id]` portion indicates a dynamic segment of the path, mutable depending on usage context, while `?display=full` denotes a query parameter.

How to Implement

In Next.js, there are various methods for implementing query params into dynamic routes. Primarily, we’ll focus on employing Next’s built-in routing library or using higher levels libraries such as `next/router`.

1. Method with Link from “next/link”

One straightforward method involves using the `` component from the `next/link` package:

    import Link from 'next/link';
    ....
    
      User Profile
    

The `href` prop points to the page in your pages directory, which receives the value when rendering. The `as` prop is what the browser URL displays.

2. Pushing to Router Directly

Another approach is pushing a new URL to the router directly. This is commonly achieved with the `useRouter` hook:

    import { useRouter } from 'next/router';
    ....
    const router = useRouter();
    ....
    router.push(`/user/${userId}?display=full`);

This is particularly useful when you want to programmatically navigate to a new page based on a certain event such as button click.

3. Using Router from ‘next/router’ for Server-Side rendering

    import { useRouter } from 'next/router'
    ....

    const Component = () => {
        const router = useRouter()
        ....
        return (
          <>
            {router.query.display? `You selected ${router.query.display}` : 'Loading...'}
          
        )
    }

The `useRouter` hook can be used to access the query parameters.

Alan Turing, a pioneer in computer science, asserted, “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” In light of this, it’s important to take proactive steps in making your next.js applications more polished and efficient by properly implementing query parameters on dynamic routes.

To dive deeper into Next.js routing, you can visit the [Official Next.js Routing documentation].

Tips for Appending Query Params to Dynamic Routing in Next.js

Dynamic routing in Next.js forms the backbone of almost all single-page applications (SPAs) that need to manage different views. The process is fairly straightforward, but appending query params can add an extra layer of complexity. That said, with the correct approach and techniques, this won’t be a problem.

Let’s dive into some potent tips for appending query parameters to dynamic routes in Next.js:

The Usage of Router.Push : This method allows you to programmatically change the URL on your Next.js application, including adding or modifying query parameters while navigating to a dynamic route. Here’s an example:

router.push({
  pathname: '/post/[pid]',
  query: { pid: '12' },
});

In the above code snippet, we’re changing the URL to /post/12.

Merge Object Properties with Spread Operator: When there are multiple query parameters to add or update, you should merge them into one object using the JavaScript spread operator. For instance:

const newQueryParams = { ...oldQueryParams, newParam: 'newValue' };

This code assigns new queries along with old ones, enabling the simple manipulation of multiple parameters.

Encode Query Parameters: Always remember to encode your query parameters when dealing with string values that include special characters. You can use JavaScript’s built-in global function –

encodeURIComponent()

. An example usage:

const encodedParam = encodeURIComponent('special@character');

Alternate between Static and Dynamic Links: When it comes to practical usage, developers may have to switch between static links and dynamic links often, depending on the requirements. It requires planning—dynamic routing shouldn’t be instantiated at every turn, nor should it be ignored entirely.

Adhering to these four steps could help facilitate smooth navigation through your application by efficiently managing the appending of query parameters to dynamic routing in Next.js. Refer Next.js Official Documentation for a more comprehensive understanding.

Finally, I would like to share an insightful quote from Martin Fowler: “Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.” Thus, no matter how complex the task is, ensuring your code’s simplicity and functionality should be your top priority.

Advanced Concepts: Combining Query Params with Dynamic Routes in Next.js

Next.js, an open-source React front-end development web framework developed by Vercel, provides robust capabilities for combining query parameters with dynamic routes when constructing advanced web applications. Combining query parameters and dynamic routes in Next.js entails effective navigation handling and URL manipulation based on the needs of your application.

When it comes to appending a query parameter to a dynamic route in Next.js, it requires understanding both the concept of dynamic routing as well as query parameters:

See also

JavaScript

·10 min read

Error Error A Is Only Ever To Be Used As The Child Of Element

Dynamic Routing:

Dynamic routes serve to create paths that are not known or fixed in advance but rather depend on data obtained at runtime. Next.js simplifies the creation of dynamic routes through file-system-based routing where pages are automatically routed based on their filename and directory structure in the ‘pages’ directory.

For instance, if you have a page named

pages/posts/[id].js

, Next.js recognizes this as a dynamic route, with `[id]` being a placeholder for the actual data which is usually retrieved from a database or API.

Query Parameters:

Query parameters provide a method for passing variables in a URL, typically used to manipulate the view on the client-side without changing server-side data. They begin after a question mark (‘?’) in a URL and are often key-value pairs separated by ‘&’.

Appending a query parameter to a dynamic route in Next.js allows you to deliver additional information while navigating through the application without altering your existing routing structure.

Here’s how you might implement it:

Consider a blog post Detail page where you want to append a “comment” mode query param within the URL:

The dynamic route:

/posts/[id]

With appended query param:

/posts/[id]?mode=comments

Here,

[id]

represents the dynamic part of the URL (typically, the unique identifier for each post), and

mode=comments

is the query parameter, indicating that the comments view should be enabled in the Detail Page.

To navigate to this URL within your application, you might use Next.js’s

Link

component like so:

`<Link href="/posts/${id}?mode=comments">View Comments</Link>`

In this case, the `href` attribute includes both the dynamic path and the query parameters.

As Bill Gates once said, “The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life”. This applies here as well. With Next.js’s dynamic routes and query parameters, you can achieve a complex navigation system while providing a seamless user experience, as Mr. Gates suggests.

router

push

replace

router

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