API Route
A server-side endpoint defined right in your Next.js project — no separate backend needed.
The Full Picture
Next.js API routes (in App Router: route.ts files) let you build your backend inside your frontend project. A file at `app/api/users/route.ts` becomes the endpoint `/api/users`. They handle GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests and run server-side.
Vibe coders love this because there's no separate backend to deploy. The risk: AI tools often put sensitive logic (API keys, database queries) in client components instead of API routes, exposing secrets to the browser.
Related Terms
Cloud functions that run your code on demand — no servers to manage, you only pay when they execute.
Server-side code that runs at the CDN edge, close to your users, for ultra-low latency responses.
A URL that receives automatic HTTP notifications when something happens in another service.
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