State management in Next.js determines how data is stored and shared across components. While React provides built-in state handling with useState, larger applications require more scalable solutions like Context API, Redux, or Zustand.
Using Context API
import { createContext, useState, useContext } from "react";
const AppContext = createContext();
export function AppProvider({ children }) {
const [state, setState] = useState("Hello");
return <AppContext.Provider value={{ state, setState }}>{children}</AppContext.Provider>;
}
export function useAppContext() {
return useContext(AppContext);
}
- Ideal for managing shared state across components.
- Eliminates prop drilling and simplifies state handling.
Conclusion
State management is crucial for Next.js applications. Choose Context API for small apps, Redux for large-scale apps, and Zustand for lightweight state management.