Why Route prefetching behavior in NextJS? - Purpose & Use Cases

The Big Idea

What if your website could read your users' minds and load pages before they even click?

The Scenario

Imagine clicking a link on a website and waiting several seconds for the new page to load, especially on slow connections or complex sites.

The Problem

Manually loading pages only after a click causes delays, making users impatient and frustrated. It feels like waiting in line without knowing how long it will take.

The Solution

Route prefetching loads the next page's data and code quietly in the background before you click, so navigation feels instant and smooth.

Before vs After

✗ Before

<a href="/about">About Us</a>

✓ After

<Link href="/about" prefetch={true}>About Us</Link>

What It Enables

Users experience near-instant page loads, improving satisfaction and engagement on your site.

Real Life Example

When browsing an online store, route prefetching loads product pages ahead, so clicking on a product shows details immediately without waiting.

Key Takeaways

Manual page loading causes frustrating delays.

Route prefetching loads pages early in the background.

This makes navigation feel fast and seamless for users.