What is the difference between Layouts and Templates in the Next.js App Router?

Explanation & Concept

• Layouts (`layout.tsx`): Preserve state across navigation, do not re-render, and do not re-mount child DOM nodes. • Templates (`template.tsx`): Similar to layouts, but create a brand new instance for each child route navigation. State is reset, and `useEffect` hooks re-run. Ideal for enter/exit animations and page view tracking.

Code Example

typescript

// app/template.tsx
"use client";
import { useEffect } from "react";

export default function Template({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  useEffect(() => {
    // Runs on EVERY page navigation!
    console.log("Track page view analytics");
  }, []);

  return <div className="animate-fade-in">{children}</div>;
}

How It Works & Key Takeaways

Use `template.tsx` when you need animations or analytics that must fire on every page transition.

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Layouts & TemplatesIntermediate

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typescript

What is the difference between Layouts and Templates in the Next.js App Router?

Explanation & Concept

Code Example

typescript

// app/template.tsx
"use client";
import { useEffect } from "react";

export default function Template({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  useEffect(() => {
    // Runs on EVERY page navigation!
    console.log("Track page view analytics");
  }, []);

  return <div className="animate-fade-in">{children}</div>;
}

How It Works & Key Takeaways

Use `template.tsx` when you need animations or analytics that must fire on every page transition.

Mock Test · 1 Questions · Optional

Ready for Metadata API?

Take a quick test to evaluate yourself, or move straight to the next module.

Advanced1 questions

Skip