MCPInstall

route-handlers

by davepoonBackend & APIs

This skill should be used when the user asks to "create an API route", "add an endpoint", "build a REST API", "handle POST requests", "create route handlers", "stream responses", or needs guidance on Next.js API development in the App Router.

Installs
144
Last 24h
—
Trending rank
—
Security
Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/davepoon/buildwithclaude --skill route-handlers
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads route-handlers automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Next.js Route Handlers

Overview

Route Handlers allow you to create API endpoints using the Web Request and Response APIs. They're defined in route.ts files within the app directory.

Basic Structure

File Convention

Route handlers use route.ts (or route.js):

app/
├── api/
│   ├── users/
│   │   └── route.ts      # /api/users
│   └── posts/
│       ├── route.ts      # /api/posts
│       └── [id]/
│           └── route.ts  # /api/posts/:id

HTTP Methods

Export functions named after HTTP methods:

// app/api/users/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'

export async function GET() {
  const users = await db.user.findMany()
  return NextResponse.json(users)
}

export async function POST(request: Request) {
  const body = await request.json()
  const user = await db.user.create({ data: body })
  return NextResponse.json(user, { status: 201 })
}

Supported methods: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS

Request Handling

Reading Request Body

export async function POST(request: Request) {
  // JSON body
  const json = await request.json()

  // Form data
  const formData = await request.formData()
  const name = formData.get('name')

  // Text body
  const text = await request.text()

  return NextResponse.json({ received: true })
}

URL Parameters

Dynamic route parameters:

// app/api/posts/[id]/route.ts
interface RouteContext {
  params: Promise<{ id: string }>
}

export async function GET(
  request: Request,
  context: RouteContext
) {
  const { id } = await context.params
  const post = await db.post.findUnique({ where: { id } })

  if (!post) {
    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'Not found' },
      { status: 404 }
    )
  }

  return NextResponse.json(post)
}

Query Parameters

export async function GET(request: Request) {
  const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url)
  const page = searchParams.get('page') ?? '1'
  const limit = searchParams.get('limit') ?? '10'

  const posts = await db.post.findMany({
    skip: (parseInt(page) - 1) * parseInt(limit),
    take: parseInt(limit),
  })

  return NextResponse.json(posts)
}

Request Headers

export async function GET(request: Request) {
  const authHeader = request.headers.get('authorization')

  if (!authHeader?.startsWith('Bearer ')) {
    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'Unauthorized' },
      { status: 401 }
    )
  }

  const token = authHeader.split(' ')[1]
  // Validate token...

  return NextResponse.json({ authenticated: true })
}

Response Handling

JSON Response

import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json(
    { message: 'Hello' },
    { status: 200 }
  )
}

Setting Headers

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json(
    { data: 'value' },
    {
      headers: {
        'Cache-Control': 'max-age=3600',
        'X-Custom-Header': 'custom-value',
      },
    }
  )
}

Setting Cookies

import { cookies } from 'next/headers'

export async function POST(request: Request) {
  const cookieStore = await cookies()

  // Set cookie
  cookieStore.set('session', 'abc123', {
    httpOnly: true,
    secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production',
    sameSite: 'lax',
    maxAge: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7, // 1 week
  })

  return NextResponse.json({ success: true })
}

Redirects

import { redirect } from 'next/navigation'
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'

export async function GET() {
  // Option 1: redirect function (throws)
  redirect('/login')

  // Option 2: NextResponse.redirect
  return NextResponse.redirect(new URL('/login', request.url))
}

Streaming Responses

Text Streaming

export async function GET() {
  const encoder = new TextEncoder()
  const stream = new ReadableStream({
    async start(controller) {
      for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
        controller.enqueue(encoder.encode(`data: ${i}\n\n`))
        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 100))
      }
      controller.close()
    },
  })

  return new Response(stream, {
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'text/event-stream',
      'Cache-Control': 'no-cache',
      'Connection': 'keep-alive',
    },
  })
}

AI/LLM Streaming

export async function POST(request: Request) {
  const { prompt } = await request.json()

  const response = await openai.chat.completions.create({
    model: 'gpt-4',
    messages: [{ role: 'user', content: prompt }],
    stream: true,
  })

  const stream = new ReadableStream({
    async start(controller) {
      for await (const chunk of response) {
        const text = chunk.choices[0]?.delta?.content || ''
        controller.enqueue(new TextEncoder().encode(text))
      }
      controller.close()
    },
  })

  return new Response(stream, {
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' },
  })
}

CORS Configuration

export async function OPTIONS() {
  return new Response(null, {
    status: 204,
    headers: {
      'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
      'Access-Control-Allow-Methods': 'GET, POST, PUT, DELETE',
      'Access-Control-Allow-Headers': 'Content-Type, Authorization',
    },
  })
}

export async function GET() {
  return NextResponse.json(
    { data: 'value' },
    {
      headers: {
        'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
      },
    }
  )
}

Caching

Static (Default for GET)

// Cached by default
export async function GET() {
  const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
  return NextResponse.json(await data.json())
}

Opt-out of Caching

export const dynamic = 'force-dynamic'

export async function GET() {
  // Always fresh
}

// Or use cookies/headers (auto opts out)
import { cookies } from 'next/headers'

export async function GET() {
  const cookieStore = await cookies()
  // Now dynamic
}

Error Handling

export async function GET(request: Request) {
  try {
    const data = await riskyOperation()
    return NextResponse.json(data)
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('API Error:', error)

    if (error instanceof ValidationError) {
      return NextResponse.json(
        { error: error.message },
        { status: 400 }
      )
    }

    return NextResponse.json(
      { error: 'Internal Server Error' },
      { status: 500 }
    )
  }
}

Resources

For detailed patterns, see:

  • references/http-methods.md - Complete HTTP method guide
  • references/streaming-responses.md - Advanced streaming patterns
  • examples/crud-api.md - Full CRUD API example

FAQ

What does the route-handlers skill do?

This skill should be used when the user asks to "create an API route", "add an endpoint", "build a REST API", "handle POST requests", "create route handlers", "stream responses", or needs guidance on Next.js API development in the App Router.

How do I install route-handlers?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/davepoon/buildwithclaude --skill route-handlers in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/route-handlers/ (personal) or .claude/skills/route-handlers/ (project).

Which AI agents can use route-handlers?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is route-handlers safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains route-handlers?

It is published by davepoon in davepoon/buildwithclaude. It has 144 recorded installs.

More from davepoon/buildwithclaude

View all →

anti-ui-slop

davepoon/buildwithclaude

Stop coding agents from shipping generic UI. Use UIZZE's 800,000+ real web and iOS screens to build product-specific interfaces, define a design contract, cover required states, and run a hard finish gate. Use for web or iOS UI design, implementation, redesign, critique, and pre-ship review in Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, and other coding agents.

Frontend & Design484 installs

file-organizer

davepoon/buildwithclaude

Open the skill to read its SKILL.md instructions.

346 installs

webapp-testing

davepoon/buildwithclaude

Open the skill to read its SKILL.md instructions.

Testing & QA277 installs

competitive-ads-extractor

davepoon/buildwithclaude

Extracts and analyzes competitors' ads from ad libraries (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) to understand what messaging, problems, and creative approaches are working. Helps inspire and improve your own ad campaigns.

Marketing & SEO273 installs

xlsx

davepoon/buildwithclaude

Comprehensive spreadsheet creation, editing, and analysis with support for formulas, formatting, data analysis, and visualization. When Claude needs to work with spreadsheets (.xlsx, .xlsm, .csv, .tsv, etc) for: (1) Creating new spreadsheets with formulas and formatting, (2) Reading or analyzing data, (3) Modify existing spreadsheets while preserving formulas, (4) Data analysis and visualization in spreadsheets, or (5) Recalculating formulas

Data & Databases252 installs

artifacts-builder

davepoon/buildwithclaude

Open the skill to read its SKILL.md instructions.

230 installs

Popular backend & apis skills

View category →

find-skills

vercel-labs/skills

Helps users discover and install agent skills when they ask questions like "how do I do X", "find a skill for X", "is there a skill that can...", or express interest in extending capabilities. This skill should be used when the user is looking for functionality that might exist as an installable skill.

OfficialBackend & APIs4.1M installs

entra-app-registration

microsoft/azure-skills

Guides Microsoft Entra ID app registration, OAuth 2.0 authentication, and MSAL integration. USE FOR: create app registration, register Azure AD app, configure OAuth, set up authentication, add API permissions, generate service principal, MSAL example, console app auth, Entra ID setup, Azure AD authentication. DO NOT USE FOR: Key Vault secrets (use azure-keyvault-expiration-audit), general Azure resource security guidance.

OfficialBackend & APIs566.7K installs

google-agents-cli-adk-code

google/agents-cli

This skill should be used when the user wants to "write agent code", "build an agent with ADK", "add a tool", "create a callback", "define an agent", "use state management" — in a project that needs ADK (Agent Development Kit) API patterns and code examples. It provides a quick reference for agent types, tool definitions, orchestration patterns, callbacks, state management, the graph Workflow API, and reference recipes to study. Do NOT use for scaffolding (use google-agents-cli-scaffold) or deployment (use google-agents-cli-deploy).

Backend & APIs514.8K installs

embedded-captions

heygen-com/hyperframes

Add captions or subtitles to an existing single-subject talking-head video without editing the footage. Use for plain verbatim captions, cinematic captions embedded behind the subject, VFX captions, “炸/特效/酷炫字幕,” or a named identity from the 35-style catalog. Route by visual identity, not by backend engine. The quiet anchor rail is the default; embed every word only when the user explicitly wants a fully cinematic treatment. The workflow runs locally end to end, including transcription and subject matting; split multi-shot footage before applying it.

Backend & APIs453.3K installs

entra-agent-id

microsoft/azure-skills

Provision Microsoft Entra Agent Identity Blueprints, BlueprintPrincipals, and per-instance Agent Identities via Microsoft Graph, and configure OAuth 2.0 token exchange (fmipath, OBO, cross-tenant) including the Microsoft Entra SDK for AgentID sidecar. USE FOR: Agent Identity Blueprint, BlueprintPrincipal, agent OAuth, fmipath token exchange, agent OBO, Workload Identity Federation for agents, polyglot agent auth, Microsoft.Identity.Web.AgentIdentities. DO NOT USE FOR: standard Entra app registration (use entra-app-registration), Microsoft Foundry agent authoring (use microsoft-foundry).

OfficialBackend & APIs336.6K installs

neon

neondatabase/agent-skills

Overview of Neon, a complete set of cloud backend primitives around Lakebase Postgres: Auth, Object Storage, Functions, the AI Gateway, and Realtime. Start here to choose Neon for undecided login, files, APIs, and LLM calls, set up the CLI or MCP server, and follow the branch-first workflow. Use when building an app or backend on Neon, or when "Neon" or "Lakebase Postgres" is mentioned. Child skill neon-postgres wins for an existing DATABASEURL, SQL, schema, inspect, or search. Child skill neon-auth wins for login, users, sessions, identity routing, and Managed Better Auth setup. Child skill neon-realtime wins for live queries in reactive apps and agents. Also use for object storage, S3, buckets, serverless functions, function triggers, cron, AI gateway, LLM calls, realtime, logs, Loki, Grafana, observability, postgres, database, backend, Claimable Neon, neon.new, or a no-signup database.

Backend & APIs237.1K installs