# How to Load Data from a File in Next.js **Author:** Lee Robinson --- This guide will show how to read a JSON file inside a [Next.js application](https://vercel.com/docs/frameworks/nextjs) and display its data. ## Step 1. Import Required Libraries First, we need to import the file system library from Node.js, which we'll use to read our file. `import { promises as fs } from 'fs';` ## Step 2: Create a Server Component In Next.js, create a new [Server Component](https://nextjs.org/docs/app/building-your-application/rendering/server-components), which is the default in the [App Router](https://nextjs.org/docs/app). This component is rendered entirely on the server, which allows for securely fetching data such as JSON files or talking directly to your database. `import { promises as fs } from 'fs'; export default async function Page() { //... }` ## Step 3: Read the File Next, we'll read the file. In this case, we're reading a JSON file. We use the `readFile` function from the `fs` library. We also use the `process.cwd` function to get the current working directory, and append the relative path to our file. `import { promises as fs } from 'fs'; export default async function Page() { const file = await fs.readFile(process.cwd() + '/app/data.json', 'utf8'); //... }` The `'utf8'` argument tells Node to interpret the file as a UTF-8 encoded text file. The example JSON file we're reading at `app/data.json` looks as follows: `{ "title": "My Title", "content": "Lorem Ipsum" }` ## Step 4: Use The JSON Data Now, we'll parse the file's contents. The `readFile` function returns the contents as a string, so we use `JSON.parse` to turn it into an object. Finally, we use the data in our Server Component. `import { promises as fs } from 'fs'; export default async function Page() { const file = await fs.readFile(process.cwd() + '/app/data.json', 'utf8'); const data = JSON.parse(file); return (

{data.title}

{data.content}

); }` Now, whenever you visit this page, Next.js will load the data from the file, and display it on the page. ## App Router and Colocation The Next.js App Router supports [colocation](https://nextjs.org/docs/app/building-your-application/routing/colocation) of your project files. This means you can safely organize your project files inside route segments in the App Router without accidentally making them routable. Even though route structure is defined through folders, a route is not publicly accessible until a `page.js` or `route.js` file is added to a route segment. --- [View full KB sitemap](/kb/sitemap.md)