DEV Community

Nadim Chowdhury
Nadim Chowdhury

Posted on • Edited on

How to make BreadCrumbs in Next.js

In Next.js, creating breadcrumbs typically involves using a combination of components, context, and routing. Here's a general outline of how you can create breadcrumbs in a Next.js application:

  1. Install Required Packages: Make sure you have the necessary packages installed. You might want to use a state management library like react-redux for managing the breadcrumbs state.
   npm install react-redux
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode
  1. Create a Breadcrumbs Component: Create a reusable Breadcrumbs component that will be responsible for rendering the breadcrumbs.
   // components/Breadcrumbs.js
   import { useSelector } from 'react-redux';

   const Breadcrumbs = () => {
     const breadcrumbs = useSelector((state) => state.breadcrumbs);

     return (
       <div>
         {breadcrumbs.map((breadcrumb, index) => (
           <span key={index}>
             <Link href={breadcrumb.path}>
               <a>{breadcrumb.label}</a>
             </Link>
             {index < breadcrumbs.length - 1 && <span> / </span>}
           </span>
         ))}
       </div>
     );
   };

   export default Breadcrumbs;
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode
  1. Create a Breadcrumbs Context: Set up a context to manage the breadcrumbs state.
   // context/BreadcrumbsContext.js
   import { createContext, useContext, useReducer } from 'react';

   const BreadcrumbsContext = createContext();

   const breadcrumbsReducer = (state, action) => {
     switch (action.type) {
       case 'ADD_BREADCRUMB':
         return [...state, action.payload];
       case 'RESET_BREADCRUMBS':
         return [];
       default:
         return state;
     }
   };

   const BreadcrumbsProvider = ({ children }) => {
     const [state, dispatch] = useReducer(breadcrumbsReducer, []);

     const addBreadcrumb = (breadcrumb) => {
       dispatch({ type: 'ADD_BREADCRUMB', payload: breadcrumb });
     };

     const resetBreadcrumbs = () => {
       dispatch({ type: 'RESET_BREADCRUMBS' });
     };

     return (
       <BreadcrumbsContext.Provider value={{ breadcrumbs: state, addBreadcrumb, resetBreadcrumbs }}>
         {children}
       </BreadcrumbsContext.Provider>
     );
   };

   const useBreadcrumbs = () => {
     return useContext(BreadcrumbsContext);
   };

   export { BreadcrumbsProvider, useBreadcrumbs };
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode
  1. Integrate Breadcrumbs in Pages: In your pages, use the BreadcrumbsProvider and update the breadcrumbs as the user navigates through the application.
   // pages/[slug].js (or any other page)
   import { BreadcrumbsProvider, useBreadcrumbs } from '../context/BreadcrumbsContext';

   const Page = ({ data }) => {
     const { addBreadcrumb } = useBreadcrumbs();

     useEffect(() => {
       // Add breadcrumb when the page is mounted
       addBreadcrumb({ label: 'Home', path: '/' });
       addBreadcrumb({ label: data.title, path: `/page/${data.slug}` });
     }, [addBreadcrumb, data]);

     return (
       <div>
         {/* Page content */}
       </div>
     );
   };

   export default Page;

   // _app.js (or another top-level component)
   import { BreadcrumbsProvider } from '../context/BreadcrumbsContext';
   import Breadcrumbs from '../components/Breadcrumbs';

   function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
     return (
       <BreadcrumbsProvider>
         <Component {...pageProps} />
         <Breadcrumbs />
       </BreadcrumbsProvider>
     );
   }

   export default MyApp;
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Adjust the code according to your project structure and requirements. This example assumes you're using React and Redux for state management, but you can adapt it to other state management solutions or use local component state if your application is relatively simple.

Support My Work ❤️

If you enjoy my content and find it valuable, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee. Your support helps me continue creating and sharing useful resources. Thank you!

Connect with Me 🌍

Let’s stay connected! You can follow me or reach out on these platforms:

🔹 YouTube – Tutorials, insights & tech content

🔹 LinkedIn – Professional updates & networking

🔹 GitHub – My open-source projects & contributions

🔹 Instagram – Behind-the-scenes & personal updates

🔹 X (formerly Twitter) – Quick thoughts & tech discussions

I’d love to hear from you—whether it’s feedback, collaboration ideas, or just a friendly hello!

Disclaimer

This content has been generated with the assistance of AI. While I strive for accuracy and quality, please verify critical information independently.

Top comments (0)