currentUser

Instruction file imported from oakfordanalytica/futbolya (.github/instructions/AppRouter/currentUser.instructions.md). Copyright stays with the author.

[!WARNING] For optimal performance and to avoid rate limiting, it's recommended to use the <SDKLink href="/docs/:sdk:/reference/hooks/use-user" sdks={["chrome-extension","expo","nextjs","react","react-router","tanstack-react-start"]} code={true}>useUser() hook on the client-side when possible. Only use currentUser() when you specifically need user data in a server context.

The currentUser() helper returns the <SDKLink href="/docs/reference/backend/types/backend-user" sdks={["js-backend"]} code={true}>Backend User object of the currently active user. It can be used in Server Components, Route Handlers, and Server Actions.

Under the hood, this helper:

• calls fetch(), so it is automatically deduped per request.
• uses the GET /v1/users/{user_id}{{ target: '_blank' }} endpoint.
• counts towards the Backend API request rate limit.

[!WARNING] The <SDKLink href="/docs/reference/backend/types/backend-user" sdks={["js-backend"]} code={true}>Backend User object includes a privateMetadata field that should not be exposed to the frontend. Avoid passing the full user object returned by currentUser() to the frontend. Instead, pass only the specified fields you need.

import { currentUser } from '@clerk/nextjs/server'

export default async function Page() {
  const user = await currentUser()

  if (!user) return <div>Not signed in</div>

  return <div>Hello {user?.firstName}</div>
}