Instruction: Explain the significance and function of the 'pages' directory in Next.js.
Context: This question tests the candidate's familiarity with the structure of Next.js projects and the convention-over-configuration approach.
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The 'pages' directory uses a filesystem-based routing mechanism. This means that the file and folder structure within the 'pages' directory directly correlates to the application's route structure. For instance, a file named about.js inside the 'pages' directory automatically becomes accessible through the /about URL. This convention-over-configuration approach simplifies the routing setup, making it more intuitive and less error-prone, as there's no need to manually define routes in a separate configuration file.
Furthermore, Next.js supports dynamic routing within the 'pages' directory. By using file names wrapped in square brackets, such as [id].js, we can create...