---
title: usePathname
description: API Reference for the usePathname hook.
---

`usePathname` is a **Client Component** hook that lets you read the current URL's **pathname**.

```tsx filename="app/example-client-component.tsx" switcher
'use client'

import { usePathname } from 'next/navigation'

export default function ExampleClientComponent() {
  const pathname = usePathname()
  return <p>Current pathname: {pathname}</p>
}
```

```jsx filename="app/example-client-component.js" switcher
'use client'

import { usePathname } from 'next/navigation'

export default function ExampleClientComponent() {
  const pathname = usePathname()
  return <p>Current pathname: {pathname}</p>
}
```

`usePathname` intentionally requires using a [Client Component](/docs/getting-started/react-essentials). It's important to note Client Components are not a de-optimization. They are an integral part of the [Server Components](/docs/getting-started/react-essentials) architecture.

For example, a Client Component with `usePathname` will be rendered into HTML on the initial page load. When navigating to a new route, this component does not need to be re-fetched. Instead, the component is downloaded once (in the client JavaScript bundle), and re-renders based on the current state.

> **Good to know**:
>
> - Reading the current URL from a [Server Component](/docs/getting-started/react-essentials) is not supported. This design is intentional to support layout state being preserved across page navigations.
> - Compatibility mode:
>   - `usePathname` can return `null` when a [fallback route](/docs/pages/api-reference/functions/get-static-paths#fallback-true) is being rendered or when a `pages` directory page has been [automatically statically optimized](/docs/pages/building-your-application/rendering/automatic-static-optimization) by Next.js and the router is not ready.
>   - Next.js will automatically update your types if it detects both an `app` and `pages` directory in your project.

## Parameters

```tsx
const pathname = usePathname()
```

`usePathname` does not take any parameters.

## Returns

`usePathname` returns a string of the current URL's pathname. For example:

| URL                 | Returned value        |
| ------------------- | --------------------- |
| `/`                 | `'/'`                 |
| `/dashboard`        | `'/dashboard'`        |
| `/dashboard?v=2`    | `'/dashboard'`        |
| `/blog/hello-world` | `'/blog/hello-world'` |

## Examples

### Do something in response to a route change

```tsx filename="app/example-client-component.tsx" switcher
'use client'

import { usePathname, useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation'

function ExampleClientComponent() {
  const pathname = usePathname()
  const searchParams = useSearchParams()
  useEffect(() => {
    // Do something here...
  }, [pathname, searchParams])
}
```

```jsx filename="app/example-client-component.js" switcher
'use client'

import { usePathname, useSearchParams } from 'next/navigation'

function ExampleClientComponent() {
  const pathname = usePathname()
  const searchParams = useSearchParams()
  useEffect(() => {
    // Do something here...
  }, [pathname, searchParams])
}
```

| Version   | Changes                   |
| --------- | ------------------------- |
| `v13.0.0` | `usePathname` introduced. |
