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How to Handle Loading and Error States Gracefully in Next.js Apps
A polished loading screen can make a slow request feel intentional instead of broken. A thoughtful error state can turn a failed API call into a recoverable moment instead of a dead end.
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One of the easiest ways to make a Next.js application feel unfinished is to focus entirely on the successful state.
Everything works beautifully when the API responds in 200ms.
Then the network gets slow.
A database query takes three seconds.
An API returns a 500.
A user navigates to an ID that no longer exists.
Suddenly the polished application becomes a blank screen, a browser error, or a mysterious spinner that never seems to end.
In modern Next.js with the App Router, loading and error states are not something you should bolt on at the end. They are part of the route architecture.
Start With loading.tsx
Next.js provides a special loading.tsx file for route level loading UI. It works with React Suspense and allows Next.js to stream…
