Next.js 16 Partial Prerendering Patterns

Partial Prerendering (PPR) for the Next.js 16 App Router under the Cache Components model — the decisions PPR forces and how to settle them, written so an agent applies them while writing or reviewing code. Contains 21 rules across 6 categories, ordered from easy to complex: enable PPR → understand the static/dynamic boundary → cache → handle runtime data → compose whole pages → build forms and wizards. Each rule corrects a specific wrong default of a model defaulting to Next.js 14/15; there is no rule for things the model already gets right.

Version-specific. This skill targets Next.js 16 (PPR via cacheComponents, React 19.2). The Next.js 14/15 experimental.ppr flag and export const experimental_ppr route export were removed — see setup-enable-cache-components. For migrating an existing app, see the migration guide.

Write, then verify. These rules are for authoring PPR; they can't tell you what actually rendered. To empirically deconstruct the boundary — diff the static shell against the hydrated DOM to find the dynamic holes, locate the 'use client' islands, measure loading, and explain why a route is dynamic — drive next build and a real browser per _debug-boundaries.md.

When to Apply

• Building or reviewing a Next.js 16 page that mixes static chrome with personalized, real-time, or per-request content
• Enabling or migrating PPR (cacheComponents), or seeing dead experimental.ppr / experimental_ppr code
• Deciding where <Suspense> boundaries go, or debugging an Uncached data was accessed outside of <Suspense> build error
• Adding 'use cache', cacheLife, cacheTag, or choosing updateTag / revalidateTag / refresh after a mutation
• Composing forms, multi-step wizards, dashboards, or streaming server data into interactive Client Components
• Empirically verifying or debugging what actually rendered — which parts are in the static shell vs streamed, where the CSR/SSR boundary is, and why a route went dynamic

Rule Categories

Quick Reference

1. Setup & Mental Model

• setup-enable-cache-components — Enable PPR via cacheComponents: true; the experimental.ppr / experimental_ppr flags are removed
• setup-dynamic-by-default — Everything renders at request time; caching is opt-in via 'use cache' (and fetch is no longer cached)

2. The Suspense Boundary

• shell-suspense-is-the-boundary — <Suspense> is the static-shell/dynamic-stream seam, not a spinner
• shell-wrap-uncached-data — Uncached/runtime reads must be wrapped (or 'use cache'd) or the build errors
• shell-suspense-does-not-force-dynamic — Suspense alone does not make synchronous work dynamic
• shell-place-boundaries-low — Wrap the dynamic leaf, not the whole page, so the shell stays large

3. Caching with 'use cache'

• cache-use-cache-directive — Mark static/cacheable work at the function / component / page / layout / file level
• cache-keys-are-automatic — Arguments and closures form the cache key; pass varying inputs as args
• cache-pass-runtime-values-as-props — You can't read cookies()/headers() inside a cached scope; pass values in
• cache-pass-through-children-and-actions — Pass dynamic children and Server Actions through a cached component untouched
• cache-set-lifetime-and-tags — cacheLife controls TTL, cacheTag enables on-demand invalidation
• cache-in-memory-not-durable-serverless — In-memory cache isn't durable on serverless; use 'use cache: remote'

4. Runtime APIs & Non-Determinism

• runtime-request-apis-force-a-boundary — Async cookies/headers/searchParams/params force a dynamic boundary
• runtime-keep-param-routes-static — generateStaticParams keeps [slug] routes in the static shell
• runtime-gate-nondeterminism-with-connection — Gate Math.random/Date.now/crypto behind connection(), or cache the value

5. Page Composition Recipes

• compose-single-dynamic-hole — The baseline: static shell + one <Suspense> hole
• compose-parallel-holes — One boundary per widget → parallel streaming, no waterfall
• compose-stream-to-client-with-use — Pass an un-awaited Promise and unwrap with use() in a Client Component
• compose-do-not-opt-out-the-shell — Don't defer the whole app to silence a boundary error

6. Forms, Mutations & Wizards

• mutate-updatetag-vs-revalidatetag — updateTag (read-your-writes) vs revalidateTag(tag, profile) (SWR) vs refresh()
• mutate-wizard-url-driven-steps — URL-driven steps + static chrome + <Activity> field preservation

How to Use

Read a reference file when its decision comes up. Each rule names the wrong default it corrects, then shows the canonical way (with an incorrect/correct contrast only where the wrong way is a real trap). If you're starting cold, read setup- first — the rest assumes the dynamic-by-default mental model.

• Section definitions — category structure and ordering
• Boundary debugging — empirically deconstruct the static/dynamic boundary and loading with next build and chrome-devtools-mcp (via mcporter); use it when a PPR result surprises you or you're chasing a blocking-route error
• Rule template — for adding new rules
• AGENTS.md — auto-built table of contents across all rules

Related Skills

• nextjs — broader Next.js 16 App Router best practices (caching, server components, routing, hygiene)
• opinionated-nextjs-patterns — full opinionated architecture (data layer, mutations, client boundaries) that uses these PPR patterns
• react-fetch-cache-patterns — request orchestration and client-side caching for data-heavy React UIs

Reference Files