Introduction
Next.js 14 brought a massive shift in how we build React applications. With the App Router now stable and Server Components being the default, developers need to rethink their patterns.
1. Server Components by Default
Every component in the App Router is a Server Component by default. This means zero client-side JavaScript unless you explicitly opt in with "use client".
2. Streaming with Suspense
Next.js 14 embraces React's Suspense for streaming HTML from the server, improving Time to First Byte (TTFB) dramatically.
3. Parallel Routes
Parallel routes allow you to simultaneously render multiple pages in the same layout — perfect for dashboards and split-screen UIs.
4. Server Actions
Server Actions let you run server-side code directly from forms and client components without building an API endpoint.
5. Metadata API
The new Metadata API provides a type-safe way to define SEO metadata at the route level, including OpenGraph and Twitter cards.
Conclusion
Mastering these patterns will make you significantly more productive with Next.js 14. Start with Server Components and Server Actions — they'll change how you think about full-stack development.