I’ve just started learning Next.js through the official docs next.js official document
and came across two routing options: App Router and Pages Router. I get that the App Router lets you use cool features like Server Components and Streaming, while the Pages Router is the original way to build server-rendered apps.
But I’m still a bit confused about when to use one over the other. Can someone break down:
The key differences between the two?
Which one is better for performance and usability?
Are there any best practices or real-world scenarios where one clearly makes more sense than the other?
Well to easily understand it, I have created the below table of difference, based on your requirement you can use desired router however app router
is prefered in the official docs.
Feature | App Router | Pages Router |
---|---|---|
Routing type | Server-centric | Client-side |
Support for Server Components | Yes | No |
Complexity | More complex | Simpler |
Performance | Better | Worse |
Flexibility | More flexible | Less flexible |