wsimmonds/nextjs-server-navigation
Guide for implementing navigation in Next.js Server Components using Link component and redirect() function. Covers the difference between server and client navigation methods. Use when adding links, redirects, or navigation logic in server components without converting them to client components unnecessarily.
npx skills add https://github.com/wsimmonds/claude-nextjs-skills --skill nextjs-server-navigation
Server Components use DIFFERENT navigation methods than Client Components!
When requirements call for server-rendered navigation—for example, linking to other pages, redirecting after a check, or demonstrating routing patterns—prefer <Link> and redirect() within Server Components. You still avoid 'use client' unless a client-only API is involved.
Scenario: build a server component that demonstrates proper navigation patterns
✅ CORRECT Solution:
// app/page.tsx (Server Component - NO 'use client'!)
import Link from 'next/link';
export default async function Page() {
return (
<div>
<h1>Home</h1>
<Link href="/dashboard">Go to Dashboard</Link>
<Link href="/profile">View Profile</Link>
</div>
);
}
❌ WRONG Solution:
// app/page.tsx
'use client'; // ❌ NO! Server components don't need this for navigation!
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'; // ❌ Wrong for server components
export default function Page() {
const router = useRouter(); // ❌ This is client-side navigation
// ...
}
// app/page.tsx
import Link from 'next/link';
export default async function Page() {
// Can still fetch data - this is a server component!
const data = await fetchData();
return (
<div>
<h1>Welcome</h1>
{/* Simple navigation link */}
<Link href="/about">About Us</Link>
{/* Dynamic link */}
<Link href={`/products/${data.productId}`}>View Product</Link>
{/* Link with styling */}
<Link href="/dashboard" className="btn-primary">
Dashboard
</Link>
</div>
);
}
Key Points:
// app/profile/page.tsx
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
import { cookies } from 'next/headers';
export default async function ProfilePage() {
// Check authentication
const cookieStore = await cookies();
const session = cookieStore.get('session');
// Redirect if not authenticated
if (!session) {
redirect('/login');
}
// Fetch user data
const user = await fetchUser(session.value);
return <div>Welcome, {user.name}!</div>;
}
When to use redirect():
// app/page.tsx
import { logout } from './actions';
export default async function Page() {
return (
<div>
<h1>Dashboard</h1>
<form action={logout}>
<button type="submit">Logout</button>
</form>
</div>
);
}
// app/actions.ts
'use server';
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
export async function logout() {
// Clear session
await clearSession();
// Redirect to login page
redirect('/login');
}
// app/page.tsx - Demonstrates multiple navigation patterns
import Link from 'next/link';
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
import { headers } from 'next/headers';
export default async function HomePage() {
// Server-side logic
const headersList = await headers();
const userAgent = headersList.get('user-agent');
// Conditional redirect example
if (userAgent?.includes('bot')) {
redirect('/bot-page');
}
return (
<div>
<h1>Welcome to Our App</h1>
{/* Navigation Links */}
<nav>
<Link href="/about">About</Link>
<Link href="/products">Products</Link>
<Link href="/contact">Contact</Link>
</nav>
{/* Button-style link */}
<Link href="/get-started" className="button">
Get Started
</Link>
{/* Dynamic link */}
<Link href={`/user/${123}`}>View Profile</Link>
</div>
);
}
any Type// ❌ WRONG
function handleClick(e: any) { ... }
// ✅ CORRECT - Not needed in server components!
// Server components don't have onClick handlers
// For client components with handlers:
'use client';
function handleClick(e: React.MouseEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) { ... }
| Feature | Server Component | Client Component |
|---------|-----------------|------------------|
| <Link> | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| redirect() | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| useRouter() | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| usePathname() | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| async function | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| 'use client' | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
// ❌ WRONG
'use client'; // Don't add this just for navigation!
import Link from 'next/link';
export default function Page() {
return <Link href="/about">About</Link>;
}
// ✅ CORRECT
import Link from 'next/link';
// No 'use client' needed!
export default async function Page() {
return <Link href="/about">About</Link>;
}
// ❌ WRONG
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'; // This is for CLIENT components!
export default async function Page() {
const router = useRouter(); // ERROR! Can't use hooks in server components
// ...
}
// ✅ CORRECT - Use Link or redirect()
import Link from 'next/link';
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
export default async function Page() {
// Conditional redirect
const shouldRedirect = await checkSomething();
if (shouldRedirect) {
redirect('/other-page');
}
// Or navigation links
return <Link href="/other-page">Go</Link>;
}
// ❌ WRONG - Loses server component benefits!
'use client';
export default function Page() {
return (
<div>
<Link href="/dashboard">Dashboard</Link>
</div>
);
}
// ✅ CORRECT - Keep it as a server component!
export default async function Page() {
// Can now fetch data server-side
const data = await fetchData();
return (
<div>
<Link href="/dashboard">Dashboard</Link>
<p>{data.message}</p>
</div>
);
}
// app/page.tsx
import { createPost } from './actions';
export default async function Page() {
return (
<form action={createPost}>
<input name="title" required />
<button type="submit">Create Post</button>
</form>
);
}
// app/actions.ts
'use server';
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';
export async function createPost(formData: FormData) {
const title = formData.get('title') as string;
// Save to database
const post = await db.posts.create({ title });
// Redirect to the new post
redirect(`/posts/${post.id}`);
}
// app/page.tsx
import Link from 'next/link';
export default async function NavigationPage() {
const pages = await fetchPages();
return (
<nav>
<h2>Site Navigation</h2>
<ul>
{pages.map((page) => (
<li key={page.id}>
<Link href={`/pages/${page.slug}`}>
{page.title}
</Link>
</li>
))}
</ul>
</nav>
);
}
Need navigation in a component?
│
├─ Is it a Server Component (no 'use client')?
│ ├─ Static link → Use <Link>
│ ├─ Conditional redirect → Use redirect()
│ └─ Form submission → Server Action with redirect()
│
└─ Is it a Client Component ('use client')?
├─ Link → Use <Link> (works in both!)
└─ Programmatic → Use useRouter()
Use Client Components ('use client' + useRouter()) ONLY when you need:
For everything else, use Server Component navigation!
When you see "demonstrates navigation patterns":
Link from 'next/link'<Link> components with href propasync if fetching dataany)Server Component Navigation:
<Link> for navigation linksredirect() for conditional redirectsThis pattern is simpler and more performant than client-side navigation for static links!
Take wsimmonds/nextjs-server-navigation from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal
use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.
The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the
same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.