What types of routing exist in Next.js?

In Next.js, routing is built around the file system, but within it there are several types of routing, each solving its own task. Below is a full, structured overview.

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#1. Static routing

The most basic type.

• the URL is fixed
• suits regular pages
• minimal logic

When to use: landing pages, info pages.

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#2. Dynamic routing

The URL contains parameters.

• [param] is a dynamic segment
• available on the server and the client

When to use: articles, product cards, profiles.

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#3. Catch-all routing

Catches any number of segments.

Example URLs:

• /docs/a
• /docs/a/b/c

When to use: documentation, nested sections.

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#4. Optional catch-all routing

The same, but segments are optional.

Example URLs:

• /docs
• /docs/react
• /docs/react/hooks

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#5. Nested routing (Nested routes)

Routes inside routes plus shared layouts.

• a shared layout
• independent pages inside

When to use: dashboards, panels, SaaS.

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#6. Route Groups (grouping routes)

Grouping without affecting the URL.

• a folder in parentheses doesn't end up in the URL
• clean architecture

When to use: auth, admin, marketing zones.

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#7. Parallel Routes

Several independent UI areas on one URL.

• different data sources
• independent rendering

When to use: dashboards, complex interfaces.

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#8. Intercepting Routes

Lets you intercept navigation.

Example:

• /photos/123 opens as a modal
• on a direct navigation - as a page

When to use: modal windows, overlays.

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#9. Client-side routing (Navigation)

Navigation without a page reload:

• <Link />
• router.push()

Works on top of server-side routing.

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#Summary table

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#Interview answer

Next.js has static, dynamic, catch-all, nested, group, parallel, and intercepting routing. All of them are based on the file system and let you build both simple and very complex interfaces without manual configuration.