What is getStaticPaths?
Interviewer Expectations for this Question
01
Core Competency
Assesses fundamental understanding of Next.js conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.
02
Evaluation Criteria
Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.
Comprehensive Model Answer
Verified Solution
A function that specifies dynamic routes to pre-render based on data.
export async function getStaticPaths() {
const res = await fetch("https://.../posts");
const posts = await res.json();
// Get the paths we want to pre-render based on posts
const paths = posts.map((post) => ({
params: { id: post.id },
}));
// We'll pre-render only these paths at build time.
// { fallback: false } means other routes should 404.
return { paths, fallback: false };
}
Candidate Response Strategy & Interview Tips
- Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
- Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
- Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
- Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.