What are API routes and how do I use them?

API routes in Next.js allow you to create backend endpoints within your Next.js application. They run on the server and can handle database operations, authentication, and other server-side logic.

Where do I create API routes?

In the App Router, you create API routes by adding a route.ts or route.js file inside the app directory. For example, app/api/users/route.ts would create an endpoint at /api/users.

What HTTP methods are supported?

You can export functions named GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, and OPTIONS. Each function handles the corresponding HTTP method. This makes it easy to create RESTful APIs.