Next.js API Routes vs Server Actions: When to Use Which

Next.js offers two server-side patterns. Here is when to use each.

API Routes

Use for: webhooks, external API consumers, file uploads, third-party integrations.

Server Actions

Use for: form submissions, database mutations, authenticated operations within your app.

Key Differences

| Feature | API Routes | Server Actions |
|---------|-----------|----------------|
| HTTP Methods | All | POST only |
| Progressive Enhancement | No | Yes || Type Safety | Manual | Automatic || Caching | Manual | Built-in |

Our Recommendation

Use server actions for internal mutations and API routes for external integrations.

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