Programmatic navigation (useRouter) in NextJS

Introduction

Programmatic navigation lets your app change pages by code, not just by clicking links. This helps make your app interactive and dynamic.

After a user submits a form, send them to a confirmation page.

Redirect users to login if they try to access a protected page.

Move to a different page after a button click without a link.

Navigate based on some condition or result in your code.

Syntax

NextJS

'use client';
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Component() {
  const router = useRouter();

  // To navigate to a new page
  router.push('/path');

  // To replace current page (no back)
  router.replace('/path');

  // To go back
  router.back();
}

Use useRouter from next/navigation in Next.js 13+ App Router.

router.push() adds a new entry in browser history, router.replace() replaces current entry.

Examples

Navigate to '/about' page when button is clicked.

NextJS

'use client';
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Home() {
  const router = useRouter();

  function goToAbout() {
    router.push('/about');
  }

  return <button onClick={goToAbout}>Go to About</button>;
}

After login, replace current page with '/dashboard' so user can't go back to login.

NextJS

'use client';
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Login() {
  const router = useRouter();

  async function handleLogin() {
    // pretend login success
    router.replace('/dashboard');
  }

  return <button onClick={handleLogin}>Login</button>;
}

Go back to previous page in browser history.

NextJS

'use client';
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function BackButton() {
  const router = useRouter();

  return <button onClick={() => router.back()}>Go Back</button>;
}

Sample Program

This component shows a contact form. When the user submits it, the page changes to '/thank-you' using programmatic navigation.

NextJS

'use client';
import React from 'react';
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Contact() {
  const router = useRouter();

  function handleSubmit(event) {
    event.preventDefault();
    // After form submission, navigate to thank you page
    router.push('/thank-you');
  }

  return (
    <main>
      <h1>Contact Us</h1>
      <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} aria-label="Contact form">
        <label htmlFor="name">Name:</label>
        <input id="name" name="name" type="text" required />

        <label htmlFor="message">Message:</label>
        <textarea id="message" name="message" required></textarea>

        <button type="submit">Send</button>
      </form>
    </main>
  );
}

Important Notes

Programmatic navigation works only inside client components in Next.js App Router.

Always use semantic HTML and ARIA labels for accessibility when building interactive elements.

Summary

useRouter from next/navigation lets you change pages by code.

Use router.push() to add a new page, router.replace() to swap current page.

Programmatic navigation helps make apps interactive and user-friendly.

Practice

1. What does the useRouter hook from next/navigation allow you to do in a Next.js app?

easy

A. Navigate between pages programmatically using code

B. Automatically reload the page on data change

C. Fetch data from an API endpoint

D. Style components with CSS modules

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of useRouter

   The useRouter hook provides methods to change pages in code, not by user clicking links.

2. Step 2: Identify what useRouter does not do

   It does not handle data fetching, styling, or auto-reloading pages.

3. Final Answer:

   Navigate between pages programmatically using code -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   useRouter = programmatic navigation [OK]

Hint: useRouter lets you move pages by code, not by clicking [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing useRouter with data fetching hooks
• Thinking useRouter styles components
• Assuming useRouter reloads pages automatically

2. Which of the following is the correct way to import useRouter from Next.js 14+ for programmatic navigation?

easy

A. import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

B. import useRouter from 'next/navigation';

C. import { useRouter } from 'next/router';

D. import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation/useRouter';

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the correct import path for useRouter in Next.js 14+

   In Next.js 14+, useRouter is imported from next/navigation, not next/router.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'; uses named import from the correct module. import useRouter from 'next/navigation'; misses braces, causing syntax error. import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation/useRouter'; uses a wrong path.

3. Final Answer:

   import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct import = import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation'; [OK]

Hint: Use named import from 'next/navigation' for useRouter [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Importing from 'next/router' instead of 'next/navigation'
• Missing curly braces in import
• Using incorrect import paths

3. Given this code snippet in a Next.js component, what will happen when the button is clicked?

import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Home() {
  const router = useRouter();
  return (
    <button onClick={() => router.push('/about')}>Go to About</button>
  );
}

medium

A. The page will navigate to '/about' replacing the current history entry

B. The page will reload but stay on the same URL

C. The page will navigate to '/about' adding a new entry in browser history

D. Nothing happens because router.push is invalid

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand router.push behavior

   The router.push('/about') method navigates to the '/about' page and adds a new entry in the browser history stack.

2. Step 2: Confirm the code triggers navigation on button click

   The button's onClick calls router.push correctly, so navigation happens as expected.

3. Final Answer:

   The page will navigate to '/about' adding a new entry in browser history -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   router.push adds history entry = The page will navigate to '/about' adding a new entry in browser history [OK]

Hint: router.push adds new history entry and navigates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing router.push with router.replace
• Thinking router.push reloads current page
• Assuming router.push does nothing without await

4. Identify the error in this Next.js component using useRouter for navigation:

import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';

export default function Page() {
  const router = useRouter;
  return (
    <button onClick={() => router.push('/contact')}>Contact</button>
  );
}

medium

A. useRouter should be imported from 'next/router'

B. router.push should be router.replace

C. Button onClick should be onClick={router.push('/contact')}

D. Missing parentheses when calling useRouter hook

Solution

1. Step 1: Check how useRouter is assigned

   The code assigns const router = useRouter; without calling it as a function. It should be useRouter().

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   router.push is valid for navigation. onClick syntax is correct. Import path is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses when calling useRouter hook -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   useRouter must be called as a function [OK]

Hint: Always call useRouter() with parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assigning useRouter without parentheses
• Using router.push incorrectly in onClick
• Importing useRouter from wrong module

5. You want to navigate to a new page without adding a new entry in the browser history (so the back button skips the current page). Which method of useRouter should you use and how?

const router = useRouter();
// Your code here

hard

A. Use router.push('/newpage') to add a new history entry

B. Use router.replace('/newpage') to replace current history entry

C. Use router.reload() to reload current page

D. Use router.back() to go back to previous page

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand difference between push and replace

   router.push() adds a new entry to browser history, while router.replace() swaps the current entry.

2. Step 2: Choose method to avoid adding history entry

   To navigate without adding a new history entry, use router.replace('/newpage').

3. Final Answer:

   Use router.replace('/newpage') to replace current history entry -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   replace swaps history entry = Use router.replace('/newpage') to replace current history entry [OK]

Hint: Use router.replace() to avoid adding history entry [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using router.push when replace is needed
• Confusing reload with navigation
• Using router.back instead of forward navigation