How can I show a loader until the DOM is fully ready in Next.js 14 APP router?

Are you tired of seeing a blank page or a bunch of HTML elements loading slowly in your Next.js 14 application? Do you want to improve the user experience by showing a loader until the DOM is fully ready? Well, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll explore different approaches to achieve this functionality, and by the end of it, you’ll be a master of loader-ification!

Understanding the Next.js 14 APP Router

Before we dive into the loader implementation, let’s quickly understand how the Next.js 14 APP router works. The APP router is a new router introduced in Next.js 14, which provides a more efficient and customizable way of handling client-side routing. It’s built on top of the React Router and provides features like automatic code splitting, lazy loading, and more.

In a Next.js 14 APP router application, the pages are rendered on the client-side, which means the HTML is generated dynamically. This can lead to a delay in rendering the page, resulting in a blank screen or a slow-loading experience for the user. That’s where our hero, the loader, comes in!

Approach 1: Using the `useEffect` Hook

One way to show a loader until the DOM is fully ready is by using the `useEffect` hook. This hook allows you to run some code after the component has mounted or updated. We can use it to set a state variable to `true` when the component is mounted, and then toggle it to `false` when the DOM is fully ready.

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

function MyPage() {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
      setIsLoading(false);
    }, 500); // adjust the timeout according to your needs

    return () => clearTimeout(timeoutId);
  }, []);

  return (
    

      {isLoading ? (
        

          

        
      ) : (
        

          
        
      )}
    
  );
}

In this example, we set the `isLoading` state to `true` initially. We then use `useEffect` to set a timeout of 500ms (adjust according to your needs) and toggle the `isLoading` state to `false` when the timeout is completed. During this time, the loader is displayed, and when the timeout is completed, the page content is rendered.

Approach 2: Using the `useLayoutEffect` Hook

Another approach is to use the `useLayoutEffect` hook, which is similar to `useEffect`, but it’s triggered after all DOM mutations. This hook is perfect for our use case, as we want to wait until the DOM is fully ready before hiding the loader.

import { useState, useLayoutEffect } from 'react';

function MyPage() {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useLayoutEffect(() => {
    setIsLoading(false);
  }, []);

  return (
    

      {isLoading ? (
        

          

        
      ) : (
        

          
        
      )}
    
  );
}

In this example, we use `useLayoutEffect` to toggle the `isLoading` state to `false` when the DOM is fully ready. This ensures that the loader is displayed until the page content is fully rendered.

Approach 3: Using a Custom Hook

If you want to reuse the loader functionality across multiple components, you can create a custom hook. Let’s create a `useLoader` hook that takes a timeout value as an argument and returns a `isLoading` state and a `hideLoader` function.

import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

const useLoader = (timeout = 500) => {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
      setIsLoading(false);
    }, timeout);

    return () => clearTimeout(timeoutId);
  }, [timeout]);

  const hideLoader = () => {
    setIsLoading(false);
  };

  return { isLoading, hideLoader };
};

export default useLoader;

Now, let’s use the `useLoader` hook in our component:

import useLoader from '../hooks/useLoader';

function MyPage() {
  const { isLoading, hideLoader } = useLoader(500);

  return (
    

      {isLoading ? (
        

          

        
      ) : (
        

          
        
      )}
    
  );
}

In this example, we use the `useLoader` hook to get the `isLoading` state and the `hideLoader` function. We then use the `isLoading` state to conditionally render the loader or the page content.

Best Practices

When implementing a loader in your Next.js 14 APP router application, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Keep the loader timeout value reasonable: Set the timeout value according to your application’s needs. If your page content takes too long to load, increase the timeout value. If your page content loads quickly, decrease the timeout value.
• Use a loader that’s visually appealing: Choose a loader that’s visually appealing and doesn’t distract the user. You can use a simple spinning wheel, a progress bar, or even a funny animation.
• Make sure the loader is accessible: Ensure the loader is accessible by adding an ARIA attribute to the loader element, such as `role=”progressbar”` or `aria-busy=”true”`. This helps screen readers and other assistive technologies to announce the loader to the user.
• Test the loader on different devices and networks: Test the loader on different devices, networks, and browsers to ensure it works as expected. You may need to adjust the timeout value or the loader implementation based on your test results.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored three approaches to showing a loader until the DOM is fully ready in a Next.js 14 APP router application. We used the `useEffect` hook, the `useLayoutEffect` hook, and a custom `useLoader` hook to implement the loader functionality. Remember to follow the best practices outlined in this article to ensure a seamless user experience.

By implementing a loader in your Next.js 14 APP router application, you can improve the user experience, reduce bounce rates, and increase engagement. So, go ahead and give your users a delightful loading experience!

Remember, the key to a great user experience is to provide a seamless and delightful loading experience. By following the approaches outlined in this article, you can take your Next.js 14 APP router application to the next level!

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