---
title: File-system conventions
description: API Reference for Next.js file-system conventions.
url: "https://nextjs.org/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions"
version: 16.2.2
lastUpdated: 2026-04-02
prerequisites:
  - "API Reference: /docs/app/api-reference"
---



- [default.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/default)
  - API Reference for the default.js file.
- [Dynamic Segments](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/dynamic-routes)
  - Dynamic Route Segments can be used to programmatically generate route segments from dynamic data.
- [error.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/error)
  - API reference for the error.js special file.
- [forbidden.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/forbidden)
  - API reference for the forbidden.js special file.
- [instrumentation.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/instrumentation)
  - API reference for the instrumentation.js file.
- [instrumentation-client.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/instrumentation-client)
  - Learn how to add client-side instrumentation to track and monitor your Next.js application's frontend performance.
- [Intercepting Routes](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/intercepting-routes)
  - Use intercepting routes to load a new route within the current layout while masking the browser URL, useful for advanced routing patterns such as modals.
- [layout.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/layout)
  - API reference for the layout.js file.
- [loading.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/loading)
  - API reference for the loading.js file.
- [mdx-components.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/mdx-components)
  - API reference for the mdx-components.js file.
- [not-found.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/not-found)
  - API reference for the not-found.js file.
- [page.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/page)
  - API reference for the page.js file.
- [Parallel Routes](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/parallel-routes)
  - Simultaneously render one or more pages in the same view that can be navigated independently. A pattern for highly dynamic applications.
- [proxy.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/proxy)
  - API reference for the proxy.js file.
- [public](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/public-folder)
  - Next.js allows you to serve static files, like images, in the public directory. You can learn how it works here.
- [route.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/route)
  - API reference for the route.js special file.
- [Route Groups](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/route-groups)
  - Route Groups can be used to partition your Next.js application into different sections.
- [src](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/src-folder)
  - Save pages under the `src` folder as an alternative to the root `pages` directory.
- [template.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/template)
  - API Reference for the template.js file.
- [unauthorized.js](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/unauthorized)
  - API reference for the unauthorized.js special file.
- [Metadata Files](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/metadata)
  - API documentation for the metadata file conventions.
- [Route Segment Config](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/route-segment-config)
  - Learn about how to configure options for Next.js route segments.

---

For a semantic overview of all documentation, see [/docs/sitemap.md](/docs/sitemap.md)

For an index of all available documentation, see [/docs/llms.txt](/docs/llms.txt)