<< All versions

Skill v1.0.0

currentAutomated scan100/100
wsimmonds/claude-nextjs-skills/nextjs-use-search-params-suspense
──Details
PublishedOctober 30, 2026 at 04:14 PM
Content Hashsha256:7a880facc2ba4f8c...
Git SHA9e0aa5f99b6c
──Files
Files (1 file, 13.4 KB)
SKILL.md13.4 KBactive
SKILL.md · 576 lines · 13.4 KB

name: nextjs-use-search-params-suspense description: Pattern for using useSearchParams hook with Suspense boundary in Next.js. Covers the required combination of 'use client' directive and Suspense wrapper when accessing URL query parameters in client components. Use when building search interfaces, filters, pagination, or any feature that needs to read/manipulate URL query parameters client-side. allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, Bash metadata: version: "1.0.0"


Next.js: useSearchParams with Suspense Pattern

Pattern Overview

The useSearchParams hook requires TWO things:

  1. Component must have 'use client' directive
  2. Component must be wrapped in a <Suspense> boundary

This is a Next.js requirement, not optional!

Why This Pattern?

useSearchParams reads URL query parameters:

  • /search?q=shoes → searchParams.get('q') returns "shoes"
  • /products?category=electronics&sort=price → Read multiple params

Why Suspense? Next.js uses React 18's Suspense to handle the async nature of reading URL params during server-side rendering and hydration.

The Pattern

Single-File Pattern (Recommended)

typescript
// app/page.tsx
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import SearchComponent from './SearchComponent';
export default function Page() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
<SearchComponent />
</Suspense>
);
}
// app/SearchComponent.tsx
'use client';
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
export default function SearchComponent() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const query = searchParams.get('q') || '';
return (
<div>
<h1>Search Results for: {query}</h1>
</div>
);
}

Inline Pattern (Single File)

Sometimes you want everything in one file:

typescript
// app/page.tsx
'use client';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
function SearchContent() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const query = searchParams.get('q') || '';
return (
<div>
<h1>Search: {query}</h1>
<p>Results for "{query}"</p>
</div>
);
}
export default function Page() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading search...</div>}>
<SearchContent />
</Suspense>
);
}

TypeScript: NEVER Use any Type

typescript
// ❌ WRONG
function Component({ params }: any) { ... }
// ✅ CORRECT
// useSearchParams returns ReadonlyURLSearchParams
function Component() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const value: string | null = searchParams.get('key');
}

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Search Interface

typescript
// app/search/page.tsx
'use client';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
function SearchResults() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const query = searchParams.get('q') || '';
const category = searchParams.get('category') || 'all';
return (
<div>
<h1>Search: {query}</h1>
<p>Category: {category}</p>
{/* Display search results */}
<div className="results">
{/* ... */}
</div>
</div>
);
}
export default function SearchPage() {
return (
<div>
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading results...</div>}>
<SearchResults />
</Suspense>
</div>
);
}

Example 2: Product Filters

typescript
// app/products/page.tsx
'use client';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
function ProductList() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const router = useRouter();
const category = searchParams.get('category') || 'all';
const sort = searchParams.get('sort') || 'name';
const minPrice = searchParams.get('minPrice') || '0';
const updateFilter = (key: string, value: string) => {
const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams.toString());
params.set(key, value);
router.push(`?${params.toString()}`);
};
return (
<div>
<div className="filters">
<select
value={category}
onChange={(e) => updateFilter('category', e.target.value)}
>
<option value="all">All Categories</option>
<option value="electronics">Electronics</option>
<option value="clothing">Clothing</option>
</select>
<select
value={sort}
onChange={(e) => updateFilter('sort', e.target.value)}
>
<option value="name">Name</option>
<option value="price">Price</option>
<option value="rating">Rating</option>
</select>
</div>
<div className="products">
{/* Product grid filtered by params */}
</div>
</div>
);
}
export default function ProductsPage() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading products...</div>}>
<ProductList />
</Suspense>
);
}

Example 3: Pagination

typescript
// app/blog/page.tsx
'use client';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
function BlogPosts() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const router = useRouter();
const page = parseInt(searchParams.get('page') || '1', 10);
const perPage = 10;
const goToPage = (newPage: number) => {
const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams.toString());
params.set('page', newPage.toString());
router.push(`?${params.toString()}`);
};
return (
<div>
<h1>Blog Posts - Page {page}</h1>
<div className="posts">
{/* Blog posts for current page */}
</div>
<div className="pagination">
<button
disabled={page === 1}
onClick={() => goToPage(page - 1)}
>
Previous
</button>
<span>Page {page}</span>
<button onClick={() => goToPage(page + 1)}>
Next
</button>
</div>
</div>
);
}
export default function BlogPage() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading posts...</div>}>
<BlogPosts />
</Suspense>
);
}

Working with URLSearchParams

typescript
'use client';
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
function Component() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
// Get single value
const query = searchParams.get('q'); // string | null
const category = searchParams.get('category'); // string | null
// Get all values for a key (for multi-select)
const tags = searchParams.getAll('tag'); // string[]
// Check if key exists
const hasSort = searchParams.has('sort'); // boolean
// Iterate over all params
searchParams.forEach((value, key) => {
console.log(`${key}: ${value}`);
});
// Convert to regular object
const paramsObject = Object.fromEntries(searchParams.entries());
return <div>{/* ... */}</div>;
}

Updating URL Parameters

typescript
'use client';
import { useSearchParams, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
function Component() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const router = useRouter();
const updateParams = (updates: Record<string, string>) => {
// Create new URLSearchParams from current params
const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams.toString());
// Apply updates
Object.entries(updates).forEach(([key, value]) => {
if (value) {
params.set(key, value);
} else {
params.delete(key); // Remove if value is empty
}
});
// Navigate with new params
router.push(`?${params.toString()}`);
};
return (
<button onClick={() => updateParams({ sort: 'price', order: 'asc' })}>
Sort by Price
</button>
);
}

Common Patterns

Pattern: Search with Debounce

typescript
'use client';
import { Suspense, useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
function SearchInput() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const router = useRouter();
const [query, setQuery] = useState(searchParams.get('q') || '');
useEffect(() => {
const timer = setTimeout(() => {
const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams.toString());
if (query) {
params.set('q', query);
} else {
params.delete('q');
}
router.push(`?${params.toString()}`);
}, 300); // Debounce 300ms
return () => clearTimeout(timer);
}, [query, searchParams, router]);
return (
<input
type="search"
value={query}
onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
placeholder="Search..."
/>
);
}
export default function Page() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
<SearchInput />
</Suspense>
);
}

Pattern: Multiple Filters

typescript
'use client';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
interface Filters {
category?: string;
priceMin?: string;
priceMax?: string;
inStock?: string;
}
function FilterPanel() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
const router = useRouter();
const currentFilters: Filters = {
category: searchParams.get('category') || undefined,
priceMin: searchParams.get('priceMin') || undefined,
priceMax: searchParams.get('priceMax') || undefined,
inStock: searchParams.get('inStock') || undefined,
};
const updateFilters = (newFilters: Partial<Filters>) => {
const params = new URLSearchParams(searchParams.toString());
Object.entries({ ...currentFilters, ...newFilters }).forEach(
([key, value]) => {
if (value) {
params.set(key, value);
} else {
params.delete(key);
}
}
);
router.push(`?${params.toString()}`);
};
const clearFilters = () => {
router.push(window.location.pathname); // Remove all params
};
return (
<div className="filters">
<select
value={currentFilters.category || ''}
onChange={(e) => updateFilters({ category: e.target.value })}
>
<option value="">All Categories</option>
<option value="electronics">Electronics</option>
</select>
<input
type="number"
placeholder="Min Price"
value={currentFilters.priceMin || ''}
onChange={(e) => updateFilters({ priceMin: e.target.value })}
/>
<button onClick={clearFilters}>Clear Filters</button>
</div>
);
}
export default function Page() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading filters...</div>}>
<FilterPanel />
</Suspense>
);
}

Common Mistakes

❌ Mistake 1: Missing 'use client'

typescript
// ❌ WRONG - Missing 'use client'
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
export default function Page() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams(); // ERROR!
return <div>{searchParams.get('q')}</div>;
}
typescript
// ✅ CORRECT
'use client'; // Added!
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
export default function Page() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
return <div>{searchParams.get('q')}</div>;
}

❌ Mistake 2: Missing Suspense Wrapper

typescript
// ❌ WRONG - Missing Suspense
'use client';
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
export default function Page() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams(); // Will cause issues!
return <div>{searchParams.get('q')}</div>;
}
typescript
// ✅ CORRECT
'use client';
import { Suspense } from 'react';
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
function SearchContent() {
const searchParams = useSearchParams();
return <div>{searchParams.get('q')}</div>;
}
export default function Page() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
<SearchContent />
</Suspense>
);
}

❌ Mistake 3: Using in Server Component

typescript
// ❌ WRONG - Trying to use in server component
import { useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation';
export default async function Page() { // async = server component
const searchParams = useSearchParams(); // ERROR! Hooks don't work in server components
return <div>...</div>;
}
typescript
// ✅ CORRECT - Use searchParams prop in server components
export default async function Page({
searchParams,
}: {
searchParams: Promise<{ q?: string }>;
}) {
const { q } = await searchParams;
return <div>Query: {q}</div>;
}

Server vs Client searchParams

FeatureServer ComponentClient Component
Access methodsearchParams propuseSearchParams() hook
Requires 'use client'❌ No✅ Yes
Requires Suspense❌ No✅ Yes
Can be async✅ Yes❌ No
Can update params❌ No (use Link/redirect)✅ Yes (use router.push)
Best forInitial load, SEODynamic filters, real-time updates

Quick Checklist

When using useSearchParams:

  • [ ] Add 'use client' directive at top of file
  • [ ] Import Suspense from 'react'
  • [ ] Import useSearchParams from 'next/navigation'
  • [ ] Wrap component using useSearchParams in <Suspense>
  • [ ] Provide a fallback to Suspense
  • [ ] Call useSearchParams() inside wrapped component
  • [ ] Use .get(), .has(), or .getAll() to read params

Summary

useSearchParams with Suspense:

  • ✅ Requires 'use client' directive
  • ✅ Requires <Suspense> wrapper
  • ✅ Use for client-side URL param reading
  • ✅ Combine with useRouter() for updating params
  • ✅ Best for filters, search, pagination
  • ❌ NOT for server components (use searchParams prop instead)

This is the recommended pattern for client-side URL parameter handling in Next.js App Router.

All versions