Upgrading to Next.js 13 from version 12 brings notable improvements, particularly in handling links and reducing bundle size. Here's a concise overview of the changes and benefits:

Link Handling Improvements

In Next.js 12, creating links required wrapping an <a> tag within the <Link> component and using the passHref attribute to ensure the browser recognizes it as a link. This approach was necessary for the browser to render the link correctly:

import Link from 'next/link';
<Link href="/about" passHref>
    <a>About</a>
</Link>

With the release of Next.js 13, this issue was resolved. Now, developers can use the <Link> component directly without the need for an <a> child, simplifying the code and enhancing readability:

import Link from 'next/link';
<Link href="/about">About</Link>

Bundle Size Reduction

Another significant enhancement in Next.js 13 is the reduction in bundle size.

Modularized Imports

Further optimizations were achieved by leveraging modularized imports. By importing only the necessary components, the bundle size was reduced even further

This approach ensures that the application loads only what is needed, minimizing unnecessary overhead.

Conclusion

Upgrading from Next.js 12 to 13 addresses the cumbersome link handling and significantly reduces bundle size. These improvements result in cleaner code, better performance, and an overall enhanced developer experience.