LogoفارسیFA

Linking and Navigating in Next.js – Server Rendering, Prefetching, Streaming, and Fast Transitions

Next.js provides fast and responsive navigation using server rendering, automatic prefetching, streaming, and client-side transitions. This article explains how navigation works, how to optimize it for dynamic routes and slow networks, and how to use loading.tsx and the Link component to improve user experience.

Next.js navigationprefetchingstreamingloading.tsx

~2 min read • Updated Oct 25, 2025

Introduction


In Next.js, routes are server-rendered by default. This means the client waits for a server response before showing a new route. To improve this experience, Next.js uses prefetching, streaming, and client-side transitions to make navigation fast and smooth.


Server Rendering


Layouts and pages in Next.js are React Server Components by default. There are two types of server rendering:


  • Static Rendering: Happens at build time or during revalidation and is cached.
  • Dynamic Rendering: Happens at request time when the user navigates.

While server rendering ensures fresh data, it introduces a delay. Next.js solves this with prefetching and client-side transitions.


Prefetching


Prefetching loads a route in the background before the user clicks it. Next.js automatically prefetches routes linked with the <Link> component when they enter the viewport or are hovered:


// app/layout.tsx
import Link from 'next/link';

export default function Layout({ children }) {
  return (
    <html>
      <body>
        <nav>
          <Link href="/blog">Blog</Link> {/* Prefetched */}
          <a href="/contact">Contact</a> {/* Not prefetched */}
        </nav>
        {children}
      </body>
    </html>
  );
}

Prefetching behavior depends on the route type:

  • Static Routes: Fully prefetched.
  • Dynamic Routes: Skipped or partially prefetched if loading.tsx is present.

Streaming


Streaming allows the server to send parts of a route as soon as they’re ready. This gives users immediate visual feedback, even if the full page isn’t loaded yet.


To enable streaming, add a loading.tsx file to your route folder:


// app/dashboard/loading.tsx
export default function Loading() {
  return <LoadingSkeleton />;
}

Next.js automatically wraps page.tsx in a <Suspense> boundary. The fallback UI from loading.tsx is shown first, then replaced with actual content.


Benefits of loading.tsx


  • Instant navigation and visual feedback
  • Shared layouts remain interactive
  • Improved Core Web Vitals: TTFB, FCP, TTI

Conclusion


Next.js combines server rendering, smart prefetching, and streaming to deliver fast and responsive navigation. By using <Link> for transitions and loading.tsx for fallback UI, you can build user-friendly applications that feel instant and fluid.


Written & researched by Dr. Shahin Siami

Next Article