Unlock the Power of Server-Side Pagination in Next.js
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Advantages of Server-Side Pagination
- Storing Relevant Data in the URL
- Implementing Server-Side Pagination in Next.js
- Defining the Data
- Getting the Page and Per Page Parameters
- Defining the Start and End Values
- Displaying the Entries
- Adding Styling to the Entries
- Adding Pagination Controls
- Creating a Pagination Controls Component
- Getting Router and Search Params
- Adding Logic for Page and Per Page
- Displaying Previous and Next Page Buttons
- Updating URL Parameters with Router
- Handling Large Data Operations
- Fixing Page Out of Range Issues
- Conclusion
- Resources
🔍 Introduction
In web applications, pagination is a common technique used to divide large sets of data into smaller, more manageable chunks. Traditionally, pagination has been implemented on the client-side, where data is fetched from the server and rendered on the client. However, server-side pagination offers several advantages over the regular client-side implementation. In this article, we will explore the benefits of server-side pagination and learn how to implement it using Next.js.
💡 Advantages of Server-Side Pagination
Server-side pagination provides two main advantages over client-side pagination. Firstly, it is easier to implement. All the relevant data is stored in the URL, making it convenient to share and bookmark specific pages of data. Unlike the state-based approach, where data is stored locally and may not reflect the same set of data when accessed later, server-side pagination ensures consistent data retrieval.
🌐 Storing Relevant Data in the URL
In server-side pagination, the page and per page parameters are stored in the URL. This allows for easy navigation and sharing of specific pages. When a user navigates to a particular page, the corresponding query parameters are added to the URL. These query parameters can be accessed client-side or server-side, providing the necessary information to fetch and display the desired data.
💻 Implementing Server-Side Pagination in Next.js
To implement server-side pagination in Next.js, we can follow a step-by-step process.
Defining the Data
In this example, let's assume our data is available in a local array. Normally, the data would be fetched from a database, but for simplicity, we will define it within the file. We create an array containing 10 entries.
Getting the Page and Per Page Parameters
To determine the current page, we retrieve the page parameter from the search params. If the page parameter is not available, we default it to 1. Similarly, the per page parameter is obtained from the search params or defaulted to 5. These values will be used to determine the range of data to display on each page.
Defining the Start and End Values
The start value represents the index of the first entry to be displayed on the current page. In a real-world app, this would be determined using skip and limit queries on a database. For our example, we will mock it by using the data we defined above. The end value is calculated by adding the per page value to the start value.
Displaying the Entries
We can now display the data for the current page. By applying some styling, we ensure it looks visually appealing. We map over the entries and render a <p> tag for each entry.
Adding Styling to the Entries
To make the displayed data visually appealing, we can apply some basic styling. This will enhance the user experience and make the pagination more engaging.
Let's take a moment to see how everything looks so far. As we navigate to localhost, we can observe the first page with five entries displayed.
📚 Adding Pagination Controls
While the current implementation allows us to view data for a particular page, we still need controls to navigate to the previous and next pages. To achieve this, we can create a pagination controls component.
Creating a Pagination Controls Component
The pagination controls component handles the logic for navigating between pages. It receives the router and search params as props. Similar to the previous steps, we retrieve the page and per page values from the search params or use default values. We add two buttons, one for going to the previous page and one for going to the next page. Additionally, we display the current page number.
Getting Router and Search Params
To access the router and search params, we import them into our component. These values are essential for updating the URL when navigating between pages. By utilizing the router methods, we can easily update the query parameters and trigger a re-render to fetch the new data.
Adding Logic for Page and Per Page
The logic for the page and per page parameters remains the same as in the previous steps. We retrieve these values from the search params and use default values if necessary. By passing this information to the pagination controls component, we can control the behavior of the buttons.
Displaying Previous and Next Page Buttons
With the pagination controls component in place, we can now display the previous and next page buttons. Based on the availability of previous and next pages, we disable the buttons accordingly. This ensures the user cannot navigate to invalid or out-of-range pages.
By reloading the page without any query parameters, we start on the first page. As we navigate, we can observe the next five entries being displayed, while the button becomes disabled when reaching the last page.
⚙️ Handling Large Data Operations
Server-side pagination becomes especially useful when dealing with large data sets or performing complex calculations. By processing these operations on the server, we can optimize performance and improve user experience. Fetching and rendering large amounts of data on the client-side can lead to slower page load times and increased resource consumption. Server-side pagination mitigates these issues by fetching and displaying only the necessary data for each page.
🐛 Fixing Page Out of Range Issues
One issue that can arise while implementing server-side pagination is the ability to navigate to non-existent pages. For example, users may manually enter a page number that is out of range, leading to unexpected results. Fortunately, fixing this issue is straightforward.
By defining the "has next page" and "has previous page" variables, we can determine whether to enable or disable the pagination buttons. If the end value is smaller than the total length of the data, we have a next page. Conversely, if the start value is greater than zero, we have a previous page. By passing these boolean values to the pagination controls component, we can disable the buttons accordingly.
By implementing these checks, we prevent users from navigating to invalid pages and provide a more robust pagination experience.
🎉 Conclusion
In this article, we explored the advantages of server-side pagination and learned how to implement it using Next.js. By storing the relevant data in the URL and utilizing server-side rendering, we ensure consistent and convenient access to specific pages of data. Server-side pagination improves performance, optimizes resource usage, and enhances the user experience, especially when dealing with large datasets. With the knowledge gained from this article, you can now implement server-side pagination in your Next.js applications and enhance the efficiency and usability of your data-driven interfaces.
🌐 Resources
