How to Handle Form Submissions In Next.js?

22 minutes read

In Next.js, handling form submissions involves retrieving the data entered by the user in a form and performing actions based on that data. Here's a brief explanation of how to handle form submissions in Next.js:

  1. Create a form component: Start by creating a React component that renders the form. Use standard HTML form elements to allow users to input data.
  2. Capture form data: In this step, you need to capture the data entered by the user. You can achieve this by attaching an onSubmit event handler to the form element. Inside the event handler function, you can access the form data using the event.target property.
  3. Perform actions: Once you have the form data, you can perform various actions based on your application's requirements. This may include sending the data to an API, updating the state or context, redirecting to a different page, etc.
  4. Prevent page refresh or navigation: To prevent the page from refreshing or navigating to a different URL, you should call the event.preventDefault() method at the beginning of the form submission event handler. This ensures that the submission is handled asynchronously without causing a page reload.
  5. Use Next.js APIs or third-party libraries: Next.js provides several APIs to handle form submissions efficiently. You can use getServerSideProps() or getStaticProps() to fetch form data on the server-side or integrate with third-party services like Formik, React Hook Form, or Axios for more advanced form handling.
  6. Display feedback to the user: After handling the form submission, you may want to display feedback to the user indicating the success or failure of the action. This could be done by updating the UI or redirecting the user to a different thank-you page.


By following these steps, you can effectively handle form submissions in Next.js and create interactive and responsive web applications.

Best Next.js App Hosting Providers in 2024

1
DigitalOcean

Rating is 5 out of 5

DigitalOcean

2
AWS

Rating is 4.9 out of 5

AWS

3
Vultr

Rating is 4.8 out of 5

Vultr

4
Cloudways

Rating is 4.7 out of 5

Cloudways


How to handle AJAX form submissions in Next.js?

To handle AJAX form submissions in Next.js, follow these steps:

  1. Set up a Next.js project with the required dependencies. You can start by creating a new project using the Next.js CLI or by manually setting up a Next.js project.
  2. Create a form component in the pages directory. This component should include an HTML form element with appropriate input fields and a submit button. For example:
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
import { useState } from 'react';

const FormComponent = () => {
  const [formData, setFormData] = useState({
    // initialize form data here
  });

  const handleChange = (e) => {
    const { name, value } = e.target;
    setFormData((prevData) => ({
      ...prevData,
      [name]: value,
    }));
  };

  const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // perform AJAX request here and handle the response
    // you can use the fetch API or any other libraries like axios
    try {
      const response = await fetch('/api/submit', {
        method: 'POST',
        body: JSON.stringify(formData),
      });

      if (response.ok) {
        // handle successful form submission
      } else {
        // handle error
      }
    } catch (error) {
      // handle error
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      {/* form input fields */}
      <input
        type="text"
        name="name"
        value={formData.name}
        onChange={handleChange}
      />
      {/* more form fields */}
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
};

export default FormComponent;


  1. Create an API route to handle the form submission. In Next.js, API routes are files in the pages/api directory. Create a file called submit.js (or any other name you prefer) inside the pages/api directory. Write the code to handle the form submission in this file. For example:
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
export default function handler(req, res) {
  if (req.method === 'POST') {
    // process the form data and send a response
    const formData = JSON.parse(req.body);
    // perform necessary validation and database operations
    // return a response indicating success or failure
    res.status(200).json({ message: 'Form submitted successfully' });
  } else {
    res.status(400).json({ message: 'Invalid request method' });
  }
}


  1. Use the fetch API or any other libraries like Axios to make a POST request to the API route (/api/submit) when the form is submitted. In the form component's handleSubmit function, use the fetch API to make the AJAX request and handle the response accordingly.
  2. Handle the response from the API route in the form component. You can display success or error messages, update the UI, or redirect the user to another page based on the response received from the API.


Note: Make sure to replace the placeholder code (// perform necessary validation and database operations) in the API route with your actual logic for processing the form data and handling the submission.


How to handle form submission with Firebase in Next.js?

To handle form submission with Firebase in Next.js, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Install Firebase: Install the Firebase package by running the following command in your project directory: npm install firebase
  2. Set up Firebase Config: Create a Firebase configuration file (e.g., firebaseConfig.js) and include your Firebase project's configuration details. You can obtain these details from your Firebase project settings. The config should look similar to this: import firebase from 'firebase/app'; import 'firebase/firestore'; const firebaseConfig = { apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY", authDomain: "YOUR_AUTH_DOMAIN", projectId: "YOUR_PROJECT_ID", storageBucket: "YOUR_STORAGE_BUCKET", messagingSenderId: "YOUR_MESSAGING_SENDER_ID", appId: "YOUR_APP_ID" }; if (!firebase.apps.length) { firebase.initializeApp(firebaseConfig); } export default firebase;
  3. Create a Firebase collection: In your Firebase console, create a new collection to store form submissions.
  4. Build the form: Create a form component in your Next.js app. The form should have input fields, a submit button, and an onSubmit handler. For example: import { useState } from 'react'; export default function Form() { const [name, setName] = useState(''); const [email, setEmail] = useState(''); const [message, setMessage] = useState(''); const handleSubmit = async (e) => { e.preventDefault(); try { const response = await fetch('/api/submitForm', { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify({ name, email, message }), }); if (response.ok) { // Form submission success console.log('Form submitted successfully'); } else { // Form submission failed console.log('Form submission failed'); } } catch (error) { console.error('An error occurred', error); } }; return ( setName(e.target.value)} /> setEmail(e.target.value)} /> setMessage(e.target.value)} /> <button type="submit">Submit</button> </form> ); }
  5. Create an API route: Create an API route (e.g., pages/api/submitForm.js) to handle the form submission. In this file, you can access the form data, validate it, and then save it to the Firebase collection. For example: import firebase from '../../firebaseConfig'; export default async function handler(req, res) { if (req.method === 'POST') { try { // Access form data from req.body const { name, email, message } = JSON.parse(req.body); // Validate form data (optional) if (!name || !email || !message) { return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Please fill in all fields' }); } // Save form data to Firebase collection await firebase .firestore() .collection('submissions') .add({ name, email, message }); return res.status(200).json({ message: 'Form submitted successfully' }); } catch (error) { console.error(error); return res.status(500).json({ error: 'An error occurred' }); } } // Handle unsupported HTTP methods res.status(405).json({ error: 'Method not allowed' }); }
  6. Use the form component: Import and use the form component in your Next.js app wherever you want to display the form. For example: import Form from './Form'; export default function App() { return (
    {/* ...other content */}
    ); }


Now, whenever the form is submitted, the data will be sent to your API route, which will save it to the Firebase collection.


How to handle form submissions in Next.js?

In Next.js, you can handle form submissions in a few different ways depending on your specific requirements. Here are two common methods:

  1. Server-side form submission: Create a new API route in the pages/api directory to handle the form submission. In this API route, handle the incoming request, validate the form data, and perform any necessary server-side actions (e.g., saving data to a database, sending emails, etc.). Return an appropriate response to the client (e.g., success message, error message, etc.). In your form component, use the fetch API or an HTTP client library (e.g., Axios) to make a POST request to the API route when the form is submitted. Handle the response from the API route in your form component and update the UI accordingly.


Here's an example of how you can create an API route to handle form submissions:

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
// pages/api/submit-form.js
export default function submitForm(req, res) {
  if (req.method === 'POST') {
    // Handle form data
    // Perform server-side actions
    // Return response
    res.status(200).json({ message: 'Form submission successful' });
  } else {
    res.status(405).json({ message: 'Method not allowed' });
  }
}


  1. Client-side form submission: Handle the form submission directly in your component without using an API route. Use the onSubmit event handler on your form element to handle the form submission. In the event handler, prevent the default form submission behavior, validate the form data, and perform any client-side actions (e.g., showing notifications, updating state, etc.). Optionally, you can make an API request to perform server-side actions if needed. Update the UI based on the form submission result.


Here's an example of how you can handle form submissions directly in your component:

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
import React, { useState } from 'react';

export default function MyForm() {
  const [message, setMessage] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = async (event) => {
    event.preventDefault();
    // Validate form data
    // Perform client-side actions

    // Make API request (optional)
    const response = await fetch('/api/submit-form', {
      method: 'POST',
      body: JSON.stringify({ /* form data */ }),
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    });
    const data = await response.json();
    setMessage(data.message);
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      {/* form fields */}
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
      <p>{message}</p>
    </form>
  );
}


These are just two examples of handling form submissions in Next.js. Your approach may vary depending on your specific needs and preferences.

Best Next.js Books to Read in 2024

1
Real-World Next.js: Build scalable, high-performance, and modern web applications using Next.js, the React framework for production

Rating is 5 out of 5

Real-World Next.js: Build scalable, high-performance, and modern web applications using Next.js, the React framework for production

2
Next.js Cookbook: Learn how to build scalable and high-performance apps from scratch (English Edition)

Rating is 4.9 out of 5

Next.js Cookbook: Learn how to build scalable and high-performance apps from scratch (English Edition)

3
Learning React: Modern Patterns for Developing React Apps

Rating is 4.8 out of 5

Learning React: Modern Patterns for Developing React Apps

4
React Key Concepts: Consolidate your knowledge of React's core features

Rating is 4.7 out of 5

React Key Concepts: Consolidate your knowledge of React's core features

5
Practical Next.js for E-Commerce: Create E-Commerce Sites with the Next.js Framework

Rating is 4.6 out of 5

Practical Next.js for E-Commerce: Create E-Commerce Sites with the Next.js Framework

6
Dynamic Trio: Building Web Applications with React, Next.js & Tailwind

Rating is 4.5 out of 5

Dynamic Trio: Building Web Applications with React, Next.js & Tailwind

7
The Road to React: Your journey to master plain yet pragmatic React.js

Rating is 4.4 out of 5

The Road to React: Your journey to master plain yet pragmatic React.js

8
Node.js Design Patterns: Design and implement production-grade Node.js applications using proven patterns and techniques, 3rd Edition

Rating is 4.3 out of 5

Node.js Design Patterns: Design and implement production-grade Node.js applications using proven patterns and techniques, 3rd Edition


How to handle form submission with the useMutation hook in Next.js?

To handle form submission with the useMutation hook in Next.js, you can follow these steps:

  1. Import the necessary dependencies:
1
2
import { useMutation } from 'react-query';
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';


  1. Define your mutation function using the useMutation hook. This function will be called when the form is submitted. Make sure to replace YOUR_API_ENDPOINT with your actual API endpoint:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
const mutation = useMutation((data) =>
  fetch(YOUR_API_ENDPOINT, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify(data),
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
  }).then((response) => response.json())
);


  1. Set up the form submission callback, which will trigger the mutation function. You can use the onSubmit event handler of the HTML form element:
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
const router = useRouter();

const handleSubmit = (event) => {
  event.preventDefault();

  const formData = new FormData(event.target);
  const data = Object.fromEntries(formData.entries());

  mutation.mutate(data);
};


  1. Render your form with the necessary input fields and the submit button:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
return (
  <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
    <input type="text" name="name" />
    <input type="email" name="email" />
    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
  </form>
);


  1. (Optional) Handle the mutation status and redirect after successful form submission. You can use the isLoading and isSuccess properties of the mutation object to conditionally render loading or success messages, and use the onSuccess callback to redirect the user:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
if (mutation.isLoading) {
  return <p>Loading...</p>;
}

if (mutation.isSuccess) {
  router.push('/success'); // Redirect to a success page
}

// Render the form


That's it! With these steps, you can handle form submission using the useMutation hook in Next.js.


What is the role of the useState hook in Next.js form handling?

The useState hook in Next.js is not directly related to form handling. However, it is a React hook that Next.js utilizes for state management, which can be used in form handling.


When working with forms in Next.js, the useState hook can be used to create and manage state for form inputs. It allows you to define and manipulate state variables, and update them based on user input.


For example, you can use the useState hook to create a state variable for an input field's value, and update it when the user types into the input. This state can then be used to handle form submissions, validate input, or update other parts of the UI.


By updating state with useState in form handling, you can keep track of the form state without directly manipulating the DOM, making it easier to manage and manipulate form values in Next.js applications.


What is the difference between server-side and client-side validation in Next.js form handling?

Server-side validation is performed on the server when the form data is submitted, while client-side validation is performed on the client-side (usually using JavaScript) before the form data is even sent to the server.


Server-side validation is essential for security and data integrity purposes, as it can prevent malicious data from being submitted to the server. It usually involves validating data against specific rules and constraints, such as checking for required fields, validating data formats, and verifying data against a database or external APIs.


Client-side validation, on the other hand, is generally used to provide immediate feedback to the user and improve the user experience. It can be used to check for simple validation rules like required fields, minimum and maximum lengths, and data formats. It helps to avoid unnecessary server requests by catching errors before the form data is sent to the server.


In Next.js form handling, you can combine both server-side and client-side validation for better validation coverage. Running client-side validation before submitting the form can provide quick feedback to the user, but server-side validation should always be performed to ensure the data is valid and secure.


What are the limitations of Next.js form handling?

Some of the limitations of Next.js form handling include:

  1. Limited support for complex form validation: Next.js does not provide built-in support for complex form validation. You would need to use third-party libraries or write custom code to handle validation.
  2. Lack of built-in support for form state management: Next.js does not include built-in mechanisms for managing the state of forms, such as form resets, tracking dirty fields, or managing form submission status.
  3. Limited support for form persistence: While Next.js supports server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG), form data is not automatically persisted across page navigation or when using the browser's back or forward buttons. You would need to implement custom logic to persist form data.
  4. Difficulty in handling multi-step forms: Next.js does not provide specific guidance or mechanisms for handling multi-step forms. You would need to manually manage the state and flow between different form steps.
  5. Not suitable for complex form handling scenarios: Next.js form handling is primarily designed for simple use cases. For more complex scenarios, you may need to rely on more advanced form handling tools or frameworks.
  6. Lack of built-in support for file uploads: Next.js does not include built-in support for handling file uploads. You would need to integrate with additional libraries or services to handle file uploads in your forms.


Overall, while Next.js provides basic form handling functionality, it may not be sufficient for more advanced or complex form requirements.


How to handle form submission with reCAPTCHA in Next.js?

To handle form submission with reCAPTCHA in Next.js, you can follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for reCAPTCHA and get the site key and secret key from the reCAPTCHA console.
  2. Install the necessary packages by running the following command in your Next.js project directory:
1
npm install axios react-google-recaptcha


  1. Create a new component called ContactForm.js, and add the following code:
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
import { useState } from 'react';
import ReCAPTCHA from 'react-google-recaptcha';
import axios from 'axios';

const ContactForm = () => {
  const [name, setName] = useState('');
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');
  const [message, setMessage] = useState('');
  const [recaptchaValue, setRecaptchaValue] = useState('');
  const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
  const [submitted, setSubmitted] = useState(false);

  const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    
    // Verify reCAPTCHA
    const recaptchaResponse = await axios.post(
      'https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/siteverify',
      null,
      {
        params: {
          secret: 'your_secret_key',
          response: recaptchaValue,
        },
      }
    );

    if (recaptchaResponse.data.success) {
      // ReCAPTCHA verification succeeded
      setSubmitting(true);
      
      // Perform form submission
      try {
        await axios.post('/submit', {
          name,
          email,
          message,
        });

        setSubmitted(true);
      } catch (error) {
        console.error(error);
      }

      setSubmitting(false);
    } else {
      // ReCAPTCHA verification failed
      // Handle the error here
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input
        type="text"
        value={name}
        onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)}
        placeholder="Name"
        required
      />
      <input
        type="email"
        value={email}
        onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
        placeholder="Email"
        required
      />
      <textarea
        value={message}
        onChange={(e) => setMessage(e.target.value)}
        placeholder="Message"
        required
      />
      <ReCAPTCHA
        sitekey="your_site_key"
        onChange={(value) => setRecaptchaValue(value)}
        required
      />
      <button type="submit" disabled={submitting}>
        {submitting ? 'Submitting...' : 'Submit'}
      </button>
      {submitted && <p>Form submitted successfully!</p>}
    </form>
  );
};

export default ContactForm;


  1. Replace 'your_secret_key' with your reCAPTCHA secret key in the handleSubmit function.
  2. Replace 'your_site_key' with your reCAPTCHA site key in the component.
  3. Create an API route in Next.js by creating a file called submit.js inside the pages/api directory, and add the following code:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
export default function handler(req, res) {
  // Process the form submission here
  // You can access form data using req.body and perform necessary actions

  // Example response
  res.status(200).end();
}


  1. You can now use the ContactForm component in your Next.js pages:
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
import ContactForm from '../components/ContactForm';

const ContactPage = () => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Contact</h1>
      <ContactForm />
    </div>
  );
};

export default ContactPage;


Now, when the form is submitted, it will first verify the reCAPTCHA response using the reCAPTCHA API. If the verification is successful, it will then perform the form submission by making a POST request to the API route. After the form is submitted successfully, it will show a success message.


What is the use of getInitialProps in Next.js form handling?

The getInitialProps function in Next.js is used to fetch data from external APIs or perform any other asynchronous operations when rendering a page on the server. It allows you to pre-populate the page with data before it is sent to the client.


When it comes to form handling, you can use getInitialProps to fetch initial data for your form, such as prepopulating form fields or retrieving any necessary form configuration from an API. This can be helpful in scenarios where you have a dynamic form that requires data from the server before it can be properly rendered.


For example, you might have a form that allows users to edit their profile. In the getInitialProps function, you can make an API call to retrieve the current user's profile data and pass it to the form component as props. This ensures that the form is pre-populated with the existing data when rendered on the server.


By using getInitialProps for form handling, you can improve the user experience by providing a pre-filled form that saves users from manually entering certain data or waiting for the necessary data to load after the initial page render.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram

Related Posts:

Handling form submissions and validations in Svelte involves a few key steps:Start by setting up the form structure in your Svelte component. Define form input fields using the element or other relevant form elements such as or &lt;select&gt;. Bind these inp...
To change a Laravel form dynamically, you need to follow the steps mentioned below:Get the initial form HTML: Begin by getting the HTML of the form you want to change dynamically. You can use the Laravel&#39;s built-in Form class or any frontend form library l...
To show results after uploading a file in PHP, you can follow the steps below:Start by creating an HTML form that allows users to upload the file. Use the tag with the enctype attribute set to &#34;multipart/form-data&#34; so that the form can handle file upl...