next-nested-layout

Utility to create persistent and nested lay-outs in next-js (without the app-directory).

Layouts re-mounting on each navigation is a default behavior in next-js.
This makes nested routing a complicated task to implement.
Next-js' app-directory has better support for persisting (nested) layouts.
But a lot of the next-ecosystem did not make the transition yet.

next-nested-layout offers a solution to create persistent, nested layouts outside the app-directory.
It is inspired by the pattern described by adman wathan's article.

Quick start

Install it:

npm i next-nested-layout
# or
yarn add next-nested-layout
# or
pnpm add next-nested-layout

Use it:

• add Root-component to _app.tsx

// _app.tsx
import {Root} from 'next-nested-layout'

export default (Component, pageProps) => {
   return <>
      <Root Component={Component} pageProps={pageProps}/>
   </>
}

• create persistent layout with createLayout(Component, Layout)

// [page]/index.tsx
import {createLayout} from 'next-nested-layout'

const [Page, PageLayout] = createLayout(
  () => <> some page content </>,
  ({children}) => {
     return <>
        <h1>page</h1>
        {children}
     </>
  },
)

export {PageLayout}
export default Page

• nest persistent layouts with createLayout(Component, Layout, Parent)

// [page]/[post]/index.tsx
import {createLayout} from 'next-nested-layout'
import {PageLayout} from '../'

const [Post, PostLayout] = createLayout(
  () => <> some post content </>,
  ({children}) => {
     return <>
        <h2>post</h2>
        {children}
     </>
  },
  PageLayout
)
export {PostLayout}
export default Post

• reuse layouts with createLayout(Component, ExternalLayout)

// [page]/[post]/detail.tsx
import {createLayout} from 'next-nested-layout'
import {PostLayout} from './'

const [Detail] = createLayout(
  () => <> some detail content </>,
  PostLayout
)
export default Detail