Geolocation and edge logic in NextJS

Introduction

Geolocation helps your app know where a user is. Edge logic runs code close to the user for faster responses.

Show local weather or news based on user location

Redirect users to region-specific pages or languages

Apply discounts or offers only in certain countries

Improve speed by running code on servers near the user

Control content access based on geographic rules

Syntax

NextJS

import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
  const country = request.geo?.country || 'US';

  if (country === 'FR') {
    return NextResponse.redirect(new URL('/fr', request.url));
  }

  return NextResponse.next();
}

Use request.geo to get geolocation info like country, city, or latitude.

Middleware runs at the edge, close to users, for fast decisions.

Examples

Redirect users from the US to a US-specific page.

NextJS

import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export function middleware(request) {
  const country = request.geo?.country;
  if (country === 'US') {
    return NextResponse.redirect('/us');
  }
  return NextResponse.next();
}

Log the user's city for analytics or debugging.

NextJS

export function middleware(request) {
  const city = request.geo?.city || 'unknown';
  console.log(`User city: ${city}`);
  return NextResponse.next();
}

Rewrite the URL for users in Japan to a special page.

NextJS

import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export function middleware(request) {
  if (request.geo?.country === 'JP') {
    return NextResponse.rewrite('/jp-special');
  }
  return NextResponse.next();
}

Sample Program

This middleware checks the user's country. If the user is from Germany (DE), it redirects them to the German page /de. Otherwise, it lets the request continue normally.

NextJS

import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export function middleware(request: NextRequest) {
  const country = request.geo?.country || 'Unknown';

  if (country === 'DE') {
    return NextResponse.redirect(new URL('/de', request.url));
  }

  return NextResponse.next();
}

Important Notes

Geolocation data depends on the user's IP address and may not be 100% accurate.

Edge middleware runs before your app code, so use it for quick decisions like redirects.

Always provide a fallback if geolocation info is missing.

Summary

Geolocation lets your app know where users are from.

Edge logic runs code near users for faster responses.

Use middleware in Next.js to redirect or rewrite based on location.