# Your First Route

Neutron uses file-based routing. To create a new page, you simply add a file to `src/routes`.

## Creating a Static Route

By default, Neutron routes are **static**. They render to pure HTML at build time and ship zero JavaScript to the client.

Create a file at `src/routes/about.tsx`:

```tsx
// src/routes/about.tsx

// Optional: Explicitly set mode (default is "static")
export const config = { mode: "static" };

export default function About() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>About Us</h1>
      <p>We are building the future of web development.</p>
    </main>
  );
}
```

Visit `/about` in your browser. You'll see your page rendered. If you inspect the network tab, you'll see no JavaScript bundles are loaded for this page.

## Creating an App Route

When you need interactivity, server-side data loading, or mutations, you can opt into **app mode**.

Create a file at `src/routes/dashboard.tsx`:

```tsx
// src/routes/dashboard.tsx
import { useLoaderData } from "@neutron-build/core";

// 1. Opt into app mode
export const config = { mode: "app" };

// 2. Define a loader (runs on server)
export async function loader() {
  return {
    user: "Alice",
    lastLogin: new Date().toISOString(),
  };
}

// 3. Render component (receives loader data)
export default function Dashboard() {
  const data = useLoaderData<typeof loader>();
  
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>Welcome back, {data.user}!</h1>
      <p>Last login: {data.lastLogin}</p>
    </main>
  );
}
```

This route is now Server-Side Rendered (SSR) and hydrated with Preact on the client. It supports client-side navigation and interactivity.

## Next steps

You now have static and app routes. From here:

- [Loaders](/docs/data/loaders) — load data on the server for any route.
- [Actions](/docs/data/actions) — handle form submissions and mutations.
- [Routing](/docs/routing/file-conventions) — dynamic segments, catch-all routes, and layouts.
- [Deployment](/docs/deployment/adapters) — ship your app with the static, Docker, Vercel, or Cloudflare adapter.