How to Route with query string params in Next.js

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Understanding the Issue

Imagine you have a URL structured like this:

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Everything functions correctly, and you can see the expected parameters. However, if you attempt to access the URL directly in your browser, you may notice that the parameters appear to be missing. This can lead to unexpected behavior and blank data in your application.

What Happens When You Route Directly?

When you access the route directly, the output from the useRouter() hook looks something like this:

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This will produce an output similar to:

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Here, the query object is empty {}, indicating that the query parameters are not being passed correctly in this context.

The Solution: Using getServerSideProps

To effectively handle query string parameters on the server-side, you can utilize getServerSideProps, which allows you to pre-fetch data before rendering the component. Here’s how to access the parameters:

Step-by-Step Solution

Define the getServerSideProps Function: This function will run server-side and give you access to the query parameters through the context.

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Accessing the Query Parameter: Inside getServerSideProps, you can now access the query parameter id and use it as required in your component.

Component Rendering: Once the parameters have been fetched and logged, you can easily pass this data to your React component, allowing it to render the information accordingly.

Benefits of Using getServerSideProps

Immediate Access: You have instant access to query parameters, ensuring that your component receives the expected data right from the initial render.

SEO Benefits: Server-side rendering can improve SEO by delivering fully-rendered pages to search engine bots.

Data Consistency: Helps maintain consistent data display in your application regardless of how a user accesses the page.

Final Thoughts