How to Use Server Actions in Next js with Best Practices

Introduction:

Next.js continues to evolve with powerful features aimed at improving developer experience and performance. One such feature is Server Actions, introduced to simplify server-side logic handling without creating separate API routes. Server Actions help keep components cleaner, improve security, and provide a more native way to handle mutations in both Server and Client Components.

By mastering Server Actions, developers can create fast, reliable, and maintainable full-stack applications with ease.

What Are Server Actions?

Server Actions are asynchronous functions that run only on the server. They are invoked directly from your React components and can handle tasks like database mutations, form processing, and more. These actions simplify server-client interactions by eliminating the need for explicit API endpoints.

To declare a Server Action, use the "use server" directive:

// app/actions/user.ts

'use server';

export async function createUser(formData: FormData) {

const name = formData.get('name');

const email = formData.get('email');

// Save to database here

return { success: true };

}

Using Server Actions in Server Components

In Server Components, you can define Server Actions inline or import them from a separate file. This is especially useful for quick forms or specific mutations tied to one component.

// app/page.tsx

export default function Page() {

async function handleSubmit(formData: FormData) {

'use server';

const name = formData.get('name');

// Save to DB or perform server-side logic

}

return (

<button type="submit">Submit</button>

</form>

);

}

Using Server Actions in Client Components

You can also use Server Actions in Client Components by importing them from a server-marked module.

// app/actions/user.ts

'use server';

export async function updateUser(formData: FormData) {

const id = formData.get('id');

const name = formData.get('name');

// Update user in DB

return { success: true };

}

// app/components/EditUserForm.tsx

'use client';

import { updateUser } from '@/app/actions/user';

export default function EditUserForm() {

return (

<button type="submit">Update</button>

</form>

);

}

Binding Parameters to Server Actions

You can pass arguments to Server Actions using .bind(), making them dynamic and reusable.

// app/actions/user.ts

'use server';

export async function deleteUser(userId: string, formData: FormData) {

// Delete user by ID

}

// app/components/DeleteUserButton.tsx

'use client';

import { deleteUser } from '@/app/actions/user';

export default function DeleteUserButton({ userId }: { userId: string }) {

const deleteWithId = deleteUser.bind(null, userId);

return (

<button type="submit">Delete</button>

</form>

);

}

Best Practices for Server Actions

Separation of Concerns
Keep your logic and UI separate. Define Server Actions in dedicated files and import them where needed.
Organize by Domain
Group your actions by feature or domain (actions/user.ts, actions/orders.ts) for better structure.
Error Handling
Use try-catch blocks inside Server Actions to gracefully handle failures and log issues.
Type Safety
Use TypeScript to enforce correct types for FormData fields and return values.
Secure Operations
Always verify user sessions or tokens before making sensitive changes, even inside Server Actions.
Avoid Logic Duplication
Reuse Server Actions across components to prevent writing the same logic multiple times.
Validate Input
Use libraries like Zod or Yup to validate incoming data and avoid corrupting your database.

Final Thoughts

Server Actions offer a powerful pattern for managing server-side logic in a way that feels native to React and Next.js. They simplify the code, reduce the boilerplate of API routes, and make it easier to maintain a full-stack application.

By following the best practices outlined above, you'll write cleaner, more scalable code that benefits both your team and your users.

How to Use Server Actions in Next js with Best Practices

Introduction:

What Are Server Actions?

Using Server Actions in Server Components

Using Server Actions in Client Components

Binding Parameters to Server Actions

Best Practices for Server Actions

Final Thoughts

Recent Blogs

How to Use Server Actions in Next js with Best Practices

Rate Limiting Techniques in Next js with Examples

What Are Webhooks and How Can You Use Them in Next js 15

How to Integrate Dodo Payments with Next.js for International Payments