Why Claude in Next.js?
Next.js Server Components and API Routes make it straightforward to integrate Claude without exposing your API key client-side.
Streaming Responses
Users expect instant feedback. Use streaming to show AI responses as they generate:
// app/api/chat/route.ts
import Anthropic from "@anthropic-ai/sdk";
export async function POST(req: Request) {
const { message } = await req.json();
const client = new Anthropic();
const stream = client.messages.stream({
model: "claude-opus-4-5",
max_tokens: 1024,
messages: [{ role: "user", content: message }]
});
return new Response(stream.toReadableStream());
}Function Calling (Tool Use)
Claude can call functions to retrieve real-time data, interact with databases, or trigger actions in your application. Define tools and Claude will decide when to use them.
Building a Chat Interface
Combine streaming with React state and a simple textarea to build a responsive chat interface. Keep conversation history in state and send the full context with each request.
Rate Limiting
Protect your API quota with Redis-based rate limiting per user session. This prevents abuse while keeping the experience smooth for legitimate users.
