What is `generateStaticParams`?

Next.jsMiddle~1 min read

generateStaticParams in Next.js (App Router) is a server function that tells Next.js which values of a dynamic route's parameters need to be generated in advance at build time.

Simply put:

It turns a dynamic route into a set of static pages (SSG).

Why `generateStaticParams` is needed

Without it, a dynamic route:

txt

app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx

does not know which slug values exist.

generateStaticParams:

returns a list of slug values
Next.js generates HTML for each value
pages are served from the CDN as regular static files

Basic example

export async function generateStaticParams() {
  const posts = await getPosts()

  return posts.map(post => ({
    slug: post.slug,
  }))
}

export default function Page({ params }) {
  return <Article slug={params.slug} />
}

Result: /blog/post-1, /blog/post-2, /blog/post-3 - static pages

Where it is used

blogs documentation catalogs SEO pages roadmaps

Connection with rendering

Scenario	Behavior
`generateStaticParams` exists	SSG
+ `revalidate`	ISR
No `generateStaticParams`	SSR (on request)

Important nuances

1. Runs only on the server

database access
API access
secrets are safe

2. Works only with the App Router

it doesn't exist in pages/ only app/

3. Can be combined with ISR

export const revalidate = 60

pages update without a rebuild

4. Doesn't have to cover everything

You can:

generate popular pages
render the rest on request

Frequent mistakes

confusing it with getStaticPaths (Pages Router) returning the wrong object shape expecting client-side access

Short interview answer

generateStaticParams is an App Router function in Next.js that defines the list of dynamic route parameters for static page generation at build time.

Short Answer

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