Sep 1, 2021
State Management in Next.js: Redux Toolkit vs React Context
nextjsredux-toolkitcontext-apistate-management
Do you really need Redux in a Next.js app, or is React Context enough? This post breaks down how App Router changes state management, when Context is fine, and when Redux Toolkit becomes the more honest choice for complex client-side logic.
1Explains the different layers of state in a Next.js App Router app: server, URL, local, and shared client state.
2Shows how to implement a simple ThemeContext and integrate it into the RootLayout.
3Provides a minimal Redux Toolkit setup (store, slice, typed hooks) wired into a Next.js layout.
4Discusses when Context starts to hurt (large objects, frequent updates, many consumers).
5Gives practical rules of thumb for choosing Context vs Redux Toolkit in modern Next.js projects.