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Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) · Lesson

Pages & Layouts Overview

Explore the distinction between pages and layouts, and how they combine to form the UI structure of your Next.js application.

Pages & Layouts Overview is a free Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Welcome to Pages & Layouts

Next.js UI rests on two ideas: Pages and Layouts. This lesson shows what each one is and how they combine to build your interface.

What is a Page?

A Page is a React component that renders the UI for one route. Default-export it from a page.js file and that route gets its own view.

Creating a Simple Page

Here's a basic page.js that renders the home route /. A page is just a default-exported component — nothing more.

// app/page.js

export default function HomePage() {
  return (
    <h1>Welcome to My App!</h1>
  );
}

What is a Layout?

A Layout is UI shared across pages — a wrapper that gives consistent structure. Export it from layout.js; it takes a children prop for nested content.

The Root Layout

Every App Router app needs a root layout at app/layout.js. It wraps the whole app, including the html and body tags — the place for global styles and metadata.

// app/layout.js

export default function RootLayout({ children }) {
  return (
    <html lang="en">
      <body>
        {children}
      </body>
    </html>
  );
}

Nested Layouts

Add a layout.js inside any folder for a nested layout. An app/dashboard/layout.js wraps every page under dashboard — unique shared UI per section.

How They Combine

Next.js nests layouts automatically: a page renders inside its parent layout's children, that inside its parent's, all the way up to the root.

Example: A Blog Section

Picture a blog: blog/layout.js gives a shared nav, blog/page.js is the index, and blog/first-post/page.js a post — each nesting upward into the root.

Code: Blog Layout Example

This blog/layout.js wraps every /blog page with a header, nav, and footer — shared chrome that stays consistent across the section.

// app/blog/layout.js

export default function BlogLayout({ children }) {
  return (
    <div>
      <header><h1>My Awesome Blog</h1></header>
      <nav>
        <a href="/blog">Home</a> | <a href="/blog/archive">Archive</a>
      </nav>
      <main>{children}</main>
      <footer><p>&copy; 2023 CoddyKit Blog</p></footer>
    </div>
  );
}

Code: Blog Page Example

And here's blog/page.js. Its content renders right where {children} sits inside BlogLayout — page slotting into layout.

// app/blog/page.js

export default function BlogHomePage() {
  return (
    <section>
      <h2>Welcome to the Blog Homepage!</h2>
      <p>Discover our latest articles and insights.</p>
    </section>
  );
}

Pages vs. Layouts Quiz

Let's check your understanding of Next.js pages and layouts.

Recap: Pages & Layouts

Recap: Pages (page.js) render a route's unique UI, Layouts (layout.js) share UI across routes, and Next.js nests them via children.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Pages & Layouts Overview” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Pages & Layouts Overview” is free to read here on the web, and the Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Pages & Layouts Overview”?

Explore the distinction between pages and layouts, and how they combine to form the UI structure of your Next.js application. You practise Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions)?

No prior experience is required. Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Pages & Layouts Overview” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) lesson?

Yes. Every Next.js 15 Fullstack (App Router + Server Actions) lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Project Setup & CLI
  2. File-System Routing Basics
  3. Pages & Layouts Overview
  4. Styling Your Next.js App
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