Next.js 16+ · Function

headers

headers() asynchronously reads incoming HTTP request headers in a Server Component. It returns a read-only Web Headers object and is a request-time API.

Since: v15.0.0-RC

How it works

Call the async headers function in a Server Component to obtain a read-only Web Headers object for the incoming request, then use standard Headers methods such as get. Because it is request-time data, its values are not known during build-time rendering.

Syntax

await headers()

Returns

A read-only Web Headers object.

Key points

The function asynchronously exposes incoming request headers to Server Components.
Call headers() without arguments.
The result follows the Web Headers interface and is immutable for outgoing-header purposes.
Consume the returned promise with await in an async component or with React's use.
Use Headers.get() to retrieve a header value by name.

Common mistakes

Await headers() or use React's use function; synchronous access is not the current API.
Use this API to inspect incoming headers only; it cannot mutate response headers.
Reading it depends on the request and prevents the value from being known ahead of time.

Example: Read an incoming request header

import { headers } from 'next/headers'

export default async function Page() {
  const requestHeaders = await headers()
  const userAgent = requestHeaders.get('user-agent') ?? 'unknown'

  return <p>User agent: {userAgent}</p>
}

Reads the incoming request's User-Agent header in an async Server Component and renders it.

When to use it

Request-aware rendering

Inspect the User-Agent or another incoming header while rendering a Server Component.

Authorization inspection

Read an Authorization header for server-side request handling.

Header lookup

Access standard Web Headers methods such as get without modifying the request or response headers.

cookies
draftMode
Headers.get()
Server Components
Request-time APIs

Source: Functions: headers. Checked 2026-10-15.