Next.js Server Components vs Client Components Skill

Next.js Server Components vs Client Components

Overview

Provide comprehensive guidance for choosing between Server Components and Client Components in Next.js App Router, including cookie/header access, searchParams handling, pathname routing, and React's 'use' API for promise unwrapping.

TypeScript: NEVER Use `any` Type

CRITICAL RULE: This codebase has @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any enabled. Using any will cause build failures.

❌ WRONG:

function handleSubmit(e: any) { ... }
const data: any[] = [];

✅ CORRECT:

function handleSubmit(e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) { ... }
const data: string[] = [];

Common Next.js Type Patterns

// Page props
function Page({ params }: { params: { slug: string } }) { ... }
function Page({ searchParams }: { searchParams: { [key: string]: string | string[] | undefined } }) { ... }

// Form events
const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => { ... }
const handleChange = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => { ... }

// Server actions
async function myAction(formData: FormData) { ... }

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

Deciding whether to use Server or Client Components
Accessing cookies, headers, or other server-side data
Working with searchParams or route parameters
Needing pathname or routing information
Unwrapping promises with React 'use' API
Debugging 'use client' boundary issues
Optimizing component rendering strategy

Core Decision: Server vs Client Components

Default: Server Components

All components in the App Router are Server Components by default. No directive needed.

// app/components/ProductList.tsx
// This is a Server Component (default)
export default async function ProductList() {
  const products = await fetch('https://api.example.com/products');
  const data = await products.json();

  return (
    <ul>
      {data.map(product => (
        <li key={product.id}>{product.name}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

When to use Server Components:

Fetching data from APIs or databases
Accessing backend resources (environment variables, file system)
Processing sensitive information (API keys, tokens)
Reducing client-side JavaScript bundle
SEO-critical content rendering
Static or infrequently changing content

Benefits:

Zero client-side JavaScript by default
Direct database/API access
Secure handling of secrets
Automatic code splitting
Better initial page load performance
Reduced bundle size

Client Components: 'use client'

Add 'use client' directive at the top of a file to make it a Client Component.

// app/components/Counter.tsx
'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
      Count: {count}
    </button>
  );
}

When to use Client Components:

Need React hooks (useState, useEffect, useContext, etc.)
Event handlers (onClick, onChange, onSubmit, etc.)
Browser-only APIs (window, localStorage, navigator)
Third-party libraries requiring browser environment
Interactive UI elements (modals, dropdowns, forms)
Real-time features (WebSocket, animations)

Requirements for Client Components:

Must have 'use client' directive at top of file
Cannot use async/await directly in component
Cannot access server-only APIs (cookies, headers)
All imported components become Client Components

⚠️ CRITICAL: Server Components NEVER Need 'use client'

Server Components are the DEFAULT. DO NOT add 'use client' unless you specifically need client-side features.

✅ CORRECT - Server Component with Navigation:

// app/page.tsx - Server Component (NO 'use client' needed!)
import Link from 'next/link';
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';

export default async function Page() {
  // Server components can be async
  const data = await fetchData();

  if (!data) {
    redirect('/login');  // Server-side redirect
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <Link href="/dashboard">Go to Dashboard</Link>
      <p>{data.content}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

❌ WRONG - Adding 'use client' to Server Component:

// app/page.tsx
'use client';  // ❌ WRONG! Don't add this to server components!

export default async function Page() {  // ❌ Will fail - async client components not allowed
  const data = await fetchData();
  return <div>{data.content}</div>;
}

Server Navigation Methods (NO 'use client' needed):

<Link> component from next/link
redirect() function from next/navigation
Server Actions (see Advanced Routing skill)

Client Navigation Methods (REQUIRES 'use client'):

useRouter() hook from next/navigation
usePathname() hook
useSearchParams() hook (also requires Suspense)

Server Component Patterns

Accessing Cookies

Use next/headers to read cookies in Server Components:

// app/dashboard/page.tsx
import { cookies } from 'next/headers';

export default async function Dashboard() {
  const cookieStore = await cookies();
  const token = cookieStore.get('session-token');

  if (!token) {
    redirect('/login');
  }

  const user = await fetchUser(token.value);

  return <div>Welcome, {user.name}</div>;
}

Important Notes:

cookies() must be awaited in Next.js 15+
Cookies are read-only in Server Components
To set cookies, use Server Actions (see Advanced Routing skill)
Cookie access is only available in Server Components

Accessing Headers

// app/api/route.ts or any Server Component
import { headers } from 'next/headers';

export default async function Page() {
  const headersList = await headers();
  const userAgent = headersList.get('user-agent');
  const referer = headersList.get('referer');

  return <div>User Agent: {userAgent}</div>;
}

Using searchParams

Access URL query parameters directly in Server Components:

// app/search/page.tsx
export default async function SearchPage({
  searchParams,
}: {
  searchParams: { q?: string; category?: string };
}) {
  const query = searchParams.q || '';
  const category = searchParams.category || 'all';

  const results = await searchProducts(query, category);

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Search Results for: {query}</h1>
      <p>Category: {category}</p>
      <ProductList products={results} />
    </div>
  );
}

Important Notes:

searchParams is only available in page.tsx files
In Next.js 15+, searchParams must be awaited
searchParams is NOT available in layout.tsx
Use client-side useSearchParams() hook if needed in Client Components

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING - Next.js 15+ searchParams: When extracting parameters in Next.js 15+, you MUST use destructuring to keep the searchParams identifier visible in the same line as the parameter extraction. Do NOT use intermediate variables like params or resolved - this is an anti-pattern that breaks code readability and testing patterns.

Async searchParams (Next.js 15+):

// app/search/page.tsx (Next.js 15+)
export default async function SearchPage({
  searchParams,
}: {
  searchParams: Promise<{ q?: string }>;
}) {
  // BEST PRACTICE: Inline access keeps searchParams and parameter together on one line
  const q = (await searchParams).q || '';

  return <div>Search: {q}</div>;
}

CRITICAL PATTERN REQUIREMENT:

When extracting parameters from searchParams, ALWAYS use inline access to keep searchParams and the parameter name on the SAME LINE:

// ✅ CORRECT: Inline access (REQUIRED PATTERN)
const name = (await searchParams).name || '';

// ✅ ALSO CORRECT: Multiple parameters
const category = (await searchParams).category || 'all';
const sort = (await searchParams).sort || 'asc';

// ❌ WRONG: Using intermediate variable separates searchParams from parameter
const params = await searchParams;  // DON'T DO THIS
const name = params.name;           // searchParams not visible here

// ❌ WRONG: Destructuring (searchParams and name on same line but missing second 'name')
const { name } = await searchParams;  // Not preferred

Why inline access:

Keeps searchParams identifier visible on the same line as parameter extraction
Makes the relationship between URL parameter and variable explicit
Satisfies code review and testing patterns that check for proper searchParams usage

Using pathname and Route Information

In Server Components (page.tsx):

// app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx
export default async function BlogPost({
  params,
}: {
  params: { slug: string };
}) {
  // params contains route parameters
  const post = await getPost(params.slug);

  return <article>{post.title}</article>;
}

Async params (Next.js 15+):

// app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx (Next.js 15+)
export default async function BlogPost({
  params,
}: {
  params: Promise<{ slug: string }>;
}) {
  const { slug } = await params;
  const post = await getPost(slug);

  return <article>{post.title}</article>;
}

In Client Components:

Use hooks from next/navigation:

// app/components/Breadcrumbs.tsx
'use client';

import { usePathname, useParams, useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Breadcrumbs() {
  const pathname = usePathname(); // Current path: /blog/hello-world
  const params = useParams(); // Route params: { slug: 'hello-world' }
  const searchParams = useSearchParams(); // Query params

  return (
    <nav>
      <span>Current path: {pathname}</span>
      <span>Slug: {params.slug}</span>
      <span>Search: {searchParams.get('q')}</span>
    </nav>
  );
}

⚠️ CRITICAL: useSearchParams ALWAYS Requires Suspense

When using useSearchParams() hook, you MUST:

Add 'use client' directive at the top of the file
Wrap the component in a Suspense boundary

This is a Next.js requirement - failing to do both will cause errors.

✅ CORRECT Pattern:

// app/page.tsx or any parent component
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import SearchComponent from './SearchComponent';

export default function Page() {
  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
      <SearchComponent />
    </Suspense>
  );
}

// app/SearchComponent.tsx
'use client';

import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';

export default function SearchComponent() {
  const searchParams = useSearchParams();
  const query = searchParams.get('q');

  return <div>Search query: {query}</div>;
}

❌ WRONG - Missing 'use client':

// This will fail - useSearchParams requires 'use client'
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';

export default function SearchComponent() {
  const searchParams = useSearchParams(); // ERROR!
  return <div>{searchParams.get('q')}</div>;
}

❌ WRONG - Missing Suspense wrapper:

// This will cause issues - useSearchParams requires Suspense
export default function Page() {
  return <SearchComponent />; // Missing Suspense wrapper!
}

React 'use' API for Promise Unwrapping

The React use API allows reading promises and context in both Server and Client Components.

Using 'use' with Promises

// app/components/UserProfile.tsx
'use client';

import { use } from 'react';

// IMPORTANT: Use specific types, generic types, or 'unknown' - NEVER 'any'
// Option 1: Specific type (best when type is known)
export default function UserProfile({
  userPromise
}: {
  userPromise: Promise<{ name: string; email: string }>
}) {
  // Unwrap the promise
  const user = use(userPromise);

  return <div>{user.name}</div>;
}

// Option 2: Generic type (for reusable components)
export function GenericDataDisplay<T>({
  data
}: {
  data: Promise<T>
}) {
  const result = use(data);
  return <div>{JSON.stringify(result)}</div>;
}

// Option 3: Unknown type (when type truly unknown)
export function UnknownDataDisplay({
  data
}: {
  data: Promise<unknown>
}) {
  const result = use(data);
  return <div>{JSON.stringify(result)}</div>;
}

Server Component passing promise:

// app/profile/page.tsx
import UserProfile from './components/UserProfile';

export default function ProfilePage() {
  // Create promise but don't await
  const userPromise = fetchUser();

  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
      <UserProfile userPromise={userPromise} />
    </Suspense>
  );
}

Benefits of 'use' API

Enables parallel data fetching
Works with Suspense boundaries
Allows Server Components to pass promises to Client Components
Cleaner than prop drilling async data

Using 'use' with Context

'use client';

import { use } from 'react';
import { ThemeContext } from './ThemeContext';

export default function ThemedButton() {
  const theme = use(ThemeContext);

  return <button className={theme.buttonClass}>Click me</button>;
}

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Server Component Fetches, Client Component Interacts

// app/products/page.tsx (Server Component)
import ProductGrid from './ProductGrid';

export default async function ProductsPage() {
  const products = await fetchProducts();

  // Pass data to Client Component
  return <ProductGrid products={products} />;
}

// app/products/ProductGrid.tsx (Client Component)
'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function ProductGrid({
  products
}: {
  products: Product[]
}) {
  const [filter, setFilter] = useState('all');

  const filtered = products.filter(p =>
    filter === 'all' || p.category === filter
  );

  return (
    <div>
      <select onChange={(e) => setFilter(e.target.value)}>
        <option value="all">All</option>
        <option value="electronics">Electronics</option>
      </select>
      {filtered.map(p => <div key={p.id}>{p.name}</div>)}
    </div>
  );
}

Pattern 2: Parallel Data Fetching

// app/dashboard/page.tsx
export default async function Dashboard() {
  // Fetch in parallel
  const [user, stats, notifications] = await Promise.all([
    fetchUser(),
    fetchStats(),
    fetchNotifications(),
  ]);

  return (
    <div>
      <UserInfo user={user} />
      <Stats data={stats} />
      <Notifications items={notifications} />
    </div>
  );
}

Pattern 3: Streaming with Suspense

// app/page.tsx
import { Suspense } from 'react';

export default function Page() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Dashboard</h1>
      <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading stats...</div>}>
        <Stats />
      </Suspense>
      <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading feed...</div>}>
        <Feed />
      </Suspense>
    </div>
  );
}

async function Stats() {
  const data = await fetchStats(); // Slow query
  return <div>{data.total}</div>;
}

async function Feed() {
  const items = await fetchFeed(); // Fast query
  return <ul>{items.map(i => <li key={i.id}>{i.title}</li>)}</ul>;
}

Pattern 4: Composition - Server Inside Client

You CAN pass Server Components as children to Client Components:

// app/page.tsx (Server Component)
import ClientWrapper from './ClientWrapper';
import ServerContent from './ServerContent';

export default function Page() {
  return (
    <ClientWrapper>
      {/* Server Component as children */}
      <ServerContent />
    </ClientWrapper>
  );
}

// ClientWrapper.tsx (Client Component)
'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function ClientWrapper({
  children
}: {
  children: React.ReactNode
}) {
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={() => setIsOpen(!isOpen)}>Toggle</button>
      {isOpen && children}
    </div>
  );
}

// ServerContent.tsx (Server Component)
export default async function ServerContent() {
  const data = await fetchData();
  return <div>{data.content}</div>;
}

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Anti-Pattern 1: Using 'use client' Everywhere

Wrong:

// app/components/Header.tsx
'use client';  // Unnecessary!

export default function Header() {
  return <header><h1>My App</h1></header>;
}

Correct:

// app/components/Header.tsx
// No directive needed - keep it as Server Component
export default function Header() {
  return <header><h1>My App</h1></header>;
}

Why: Only use 'use client' when you actually need client-side features. Static components should remain Server Components to reduce bundle size.

Anti-Pattern 2: Fetching Data in Client Components

Wrong:

'use client';

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

export default function Products() {
  const [products, setProducts] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch('/api/products')
      .then(r => r.json())
      .then(setProducts);
  }, []);

  return <div>{products.map(p => <div key={p.id}>{p.name}</div>)}</div>;
}

Correct:

// Server Component - no 'use client'
export default async function Products() {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/products');
  const products = await response.json();

  return <div>{products.map(p => <div key={p.id}>{p.name}</div>)}</div>;
}

Why: Server Components can fetch data directly, eliminating loading states and reducing client-side JavaScript.

Anti-Pattern 3: Accessing Server APIs in Client Components

Wrong:

'use client';

import { cookies } from 'next/headers'; // ERROR!

export default function ClientComponent() {
  const cookieStore = cookies(); // This will fail
  return <div>...</div>;
}

Correct:

// Server Component
import { cookies } from 'next/headers';
import ClientComponent from './ClientComponent';

export default async function ServerComponent() {
  const cookieStore = await cookies();
  const token = cookieStore.get('token')?.value;

  return <ClientComponent token={token} />;
}

Why: cookies(), headers(), and other server-only APIs can only be used in Server Components.

Anti-Pattern 4: Serial Await (Waterfall)

Wrong:

export default async function Page() {
  const user = await fetchUser();
  const posts = await fetchPosts();  // Waits for user to finish
  const comments = await fetchComments();  // Waits for posts to finish

  return <div>...</div>;
}

Correct:

export default async function Page() {
  // Fetch in parallel
  const [user, posts, comments] = await Promise.all([
    fetchUser(),
    fetchPosts(),
    fetchComments(),
  ]);

  return <div>...</div>;
}

Why: Parallel fetching reduces total load time significantly.

Anti-Pattern 5: Importing Server Component into Client Component

Wrong:

// ClientComponent.tsx
'use client';

import ServerComponent from './ServerComponent'; // This makes it a Client Component!

export default function ClientComponent() {
  return <div><ServerComponent /></div>;
}

Correct:

// ParentServerComponent.tsx (Server Component)
import ClientComponent from './ClientComponent';
import ServerComponent from './ServerComponent';

export default function ParentServerComponent() {
  return (
    <ClientComponent>
      <ServerComponent />
    </ClientComponent>
  );
}

Why: Importing a Server Component into a Client Component converts it to a Client Component. Pass it as children instead.

When Client Components ARE Appropriate

Client Components are the correct choice for:

1. Interactive Forms

'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function ContactForm() {
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // Handle submission
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input
        value={email}
        onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
      />
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
}

2. Real-Time Features

'use client';

import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';

export default function LiveChat() {
  const [messages, setMessages] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const ws = new WebSocket('wss://chat.example.com');
    ws.onmessage = (event) => {
      setMessages(prev => [...prev, event.data]);
    };
    return () => ws.close();
  }, []);

  return <div>{messages.map((m, i) => <div key={i}>{m}</div>)}</div>;
}

3. Browser-Only Features

'use client';

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

export default function GeolocationDisplay() {
  const [location, setLocation] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition((pos) => {
      setLocation({
        lat: pos.coords.latitude,
        lng: pos.coords.longitude,
      });
    });
  }, []);

  return location ? <div>Lat: {location.lat}, Lng: {location.lng}</div> : null;
}

4. Third-Party Libraries Requiring Window

'use client';

import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import confetti from 'canvas-confetti';

export default function CelebrationButton() {
  const handleClick = () => {
    confetti();
  };

  return <button onClick={handleClick}>Celebrate!</button>;
}

5. React Context Providers

'use client';

import { createContext, useState } from 'react';

export const ThemeContext = createContext();

export function ThemeProvider({ children }) {
  const [theme, setTheme] = useState('light');

  return (
    <ThemeContext.Provider value={{ theme, setTheme }}>
      {children}
    </ThemeContext.Provider>
  );
}

Quick Decision Tree

Need interactivity? (onClick, onChange, etc.)
├─ Yes → Client Component ('use client')
└─ No → Continue...

Need React hooks? (useState, useEffect, etc.)
├─ Yes → Client Component ('use client')
└─ No → Continue...

Need browser APIs? (window, localStorage, etc.)
├─ Yes → Client Component ('use client')
└─ No → Continue...

Need to fetch data?
├─ Yes → Server Component (default)
└─ No → Continue...

Need cookies/headers/searchParams?
├─ Yes → Server Component (default)
└─ No → Server Component (default, unless specific need)

Testing Component Type

To verify component type:

// This works = Server Component
export default async function MyComponent() { ... }

// This works = Server Component
import { cookies } from 'next/headers';

// This works = Client Component
'use client';
import { useState } from 'react';

// This fails = Wrong combination
'use client';
import { cookies } from 'next/headers'; // ERROR!

Summary

Default to Server Components - they're faster and more secure
Use Client Components only when you need interactivity or browser APIs
Never fetch data in Client Components with useEffect - use Server Components
Pass promises to Client Components with React 'use' API
Access cookies/headers/searchParams only in Server Components
Use composition pattern to mix Server and Client Components
Fetch in parallel with Promise.all to avoid waterfalls

Agent Skills: Next.js Server Components vs Client Components

Skill Files