Building Scalable APIs with Next.js Server Actions

Server Actions are a powerful new feature in Next.js that simplify full-stack development by allowing you to write server-side code directly in your components.

What are Server Actions?

Server Actions are asynchronous functions that run on the server. They can be used in Server and Client Components to handle form submissions and data mutations.

Benefits of Server Actions

Type Safety

One of the biggest advantages is end-to-end type safety. Your API contracts are defined in TypeScript, and both client and server code share the same types.

Simplified Architecture

No need to create separate API routes for every data mutation. Server Actions reduce boilerplate and make your codebase more maintainable.

Progressive Enhancement

Forms using Server Actions work even before JavaScript loads, improving the user experience for all visitors.

Best Practices

**Always validate input** - Never trust client data

**Use try-catch blocks** - Handle errors gracefully

**Return meaningful errors** - Help users understand what went wrong

**Revalidate data** - Keep your UI in sync with server state

Example Implementation

'use server'

import { revalidatePath } from 'next/cache'

import { z } from 'zod'

const schema = z.object({

name: z.string().min(1),

email: z.string().email(),

})

export async function createUser(formData: FormData) {

const validated = schema.parse({

name: formData.get('name'),

email: formData.get('email'),

})

// Database operation

await db.user.create({ data: validated })

revalidatePath('/users')

return { success: true }

}

Conclusion

Server Actions represent a significant step forward in full-stack development with Next.js. They reduce complexity while maintaining type safety and improving user experience.