Choosing the right navigation method in Next.js has a direct impact on application performance and user experience. The <Link> component is the recommended approach for internal navigation, while the standard <a> tag should be reserved exclusively for external links.

Understanding the Core Differences

Client-Side vs Server-Side Navigation

The fundamental difference lies in how each handles navigation. The <Link> component enables client-side navigation without full-page reloads, thereby maintaining the single-page application experience. In contrast, the <a> tag triggers a complete server round-trip, re-fetching the entire page and destroying all client-side state.

Automatic Prefetching Magic

Next.js automatically prefetches pages linked with <Link> when they appear in the viewport, loading them in the background for instant navigation. This prefetching can reduce perceived navigation time by up to 50%, creating a seamless user experience. Anchor tags lack any prefetching capability.

In production, Next.js prefetches the entire page when no loading.jsx/tsx exists, or prefetches up to the first loading boundary when one is present. The client cache TTL varies accordingly—cached until app reload or for 30 seconds (configurable), respectively.

Advanced Link Component Features

Dynamic Route Navigation

Template literals make linking to dynamic segments straightforward:

Active Link Styling

Combine usePathname() with <Link> to highlight active navigation items:

Replace Instead of Push

Control browser history by using the replace prop to prevent adding new entries to the history stack:

When replace={true}, clicking the browser's back button skips the replaced page entirely.

Scroll Control

The <Link> component scrolls to the top of new pages by default. Disable this behavior when needed:

Query Parameters

Pass query parameters using an object syntax:

Performance Optimization Strategies

Disabling Prefetch

Control prefetching behavior for resource optimization:

Automatic prefetching only runs in production mode. Setting prefetch={false} prevents background loading until the user clicks.

Hover-Triggered Prefetching

Implement custom prefetch behavior for fine-grained control:

This pattern defers prefetching until the user shows intent by hovering, balancing performance with resource consumption.

Manual Prefetching

Programmatically prefetch routes outside the viewport or based on user behavior:

When to Use Each Approach

Use <Link> for:

Use <a> for:

SEO and Accessibility

Both approaches remain SEO-friendly since <Link> renders as an <a> tag under the hood, ensuring search engine crawlers can follow links properly. The component maintains accessibility standards while delivering superior performance.

The Performance Impact

The performance difference is substantial—<Link> components eliminate network requests for already-loaded assets and maintain the JavaScript runtime, creating responsiveness comparable to native applications. State preservation during navigation means forms, scroll positions, and component data persist across route changes.