Building APIs with Next.js

This guide will cover how you can build APIs with Next.js, including setting up your project, understanding the App Router and Route Handlers, handling multiple HTTP methods, implementing dynamic routing, creating reusable middleware logic, and deciding when to spin up a dedicated API layer.

If you’re starting fresh, you can create a new Next.js project using:

Note: The --api flag automatically includes an example route.ts in your new project’s app/ folder, demonstrating how to create an API endpoint.

Why switch? The App Router’s “Route Handlers” lean on the Web Platform Request/Response APIs rather than Node.js-specific APIs. This simplifies learning, reduces friction, and helps you reuse your knowledge across different tools.