Q34: How does client-side navigation work using next/link in the Pages Router?
The <Link href="..."> component performs client-side transitions using HTML5 History APIs without triggering full browser page reloads. When a Link enters the browser viewport, Next.js automatically prefetches the page's JS bundle and JSON data in the background.
Key Takeaways
- Enables fast SPA navigation without full page reloads.
- Automatically prefetches linked page assets when scrolled into the viewport.
Knowledge Check
What asset does Next.js prefetch when a <Link href="/about"> enters the viewport for an SSG page?