When will you use this?

Use Route Handlers when a mobile app, webhook, or external client needs JSON from your server.

• Mobile apps and partner sites call your Next.js Route Handlers for JSON over HTTP.
• Webhook endpoints for payment providers live in app/api routes.

Real-world: Naukri-style job board

The Recruitment team building Naukri-style job board uses Edge Runtime to apply Edge Runtime when building job search, apply forms, and employer dashboards. job seekers and recruiters never see the TypeScript files — they just get a fast, reliable job search, apply forms, and employer dashboards.

Production-style code

// app/api/example/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json({ topic: 'Edge Runtime' });
}

What happens in production: In Naukri-style job board, getting Edge Runtime right means job seekers and recruiters trust the job search, apply forms, and employer dashboards every day.

Lesson example (start here)

Copy this smaller example first. Once it works, compare it with the real-world code above.

// app/api/example/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json({ topic: 'Edge Runtime' });
}

Line-by-line walkthrough

How it works (big picture)

• Study the example line by line.
• Each part connects to Edge Runtime.
• Edit one line, save, run npm run dev, and see what changes.

Do this on your computer

1. Add or update a route handler or fetch call.
2. Test with browser, curl, or Thunder Client.
3. Check status codes and JSON shape match the lesson.
4. Read the real-world section and name which part of LearnHub uses this topic.
5. Run the example locally with npm run dev and confirm the same behavior.
6. Change one value in the example (route, text, or course id) and predict what will happen before you save.

Experiments — try changing this

• Change a string or route in the example and save — watch the browser update.
• Break the code on purpose (remove a bracket), read the error overlay, then fix it.
• Change the API URL or course id and see how the page data changes.
• Use npm run dev while editing Edge Runtime — the page hot-reloads on save.

Remember

You learned what Edge Runtime is and when to use it in LearnHub. Practice by changing the example yourself. Use the Next link when you can explain it in your own words.

Common questions