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In Next.js, the <Link> component is commonly used for client-side navigation between pages. However, there might be situations where you want more control over when navigation occurs—perhaps based on certain conditions. This can be achieved by preventing the default behavior of the Link and using the Next.js router to programmatically navigate to the desired route.

Using the Next.js Link Component

Typically, a Next.js Link component looks like this:

import Link from 'next/link';

const MyComponent = () => (
<Link href="/about">Go to About</Link>
);

By default, clicking the link will immediately navigate to the specified URL. But if you want to add some logic to determine whether or not to navigate, you can prevent the default action and use the useRouter hook from next/navigation.

Example: Conditional Navigation

Here's how you can implement this:

import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
import React from 'react';

const ConditionalLink = () => {
const router = useRouter();

const handleClick = (event) => {
// Prevent the default anchor click behavior
event.preventDefault();

// Your condition here
const shouldNavigate = confirm("Do you want to navigate to the About page?");

if (shouldNavigate) {
// Programmatically navigate
router.push('/about');
}
};

return (
<a href="/about" onClick={handleClick}> Go to About </a>
);
};

export default ConditionalLink;

Explanation

  1. Prevent Default: By calling event.preventDefault(), you stop the anchor tag from performing its default navigation action.
  2. Condition Check: You can use any condition—like a confirmation dialog or checking user authentication status. In this example, a confirmation dialog asks if the user wants to proceed.
  3. Programmatic Navigation: If the condition is met, router.push('/about') is called to navigate to the specified route.

Benefits

  • Control: This approach gives you complete control over when and how navigation occurs based on user interactions or application state.
  • User Experience: You can enhance user experience by providing confirmations or validations before navigating.

Conclusion

Using the Next.js Link component with programmatic navigation through useRouter allows for dynamic and conditional routing in your application. This method is particularly useful for scenarios requiring user input or other logical checks before proceeding to another page. Embrace this technique to create a more interactive and user-friendly experience in your Next.js applications!