The Nitro Cached HTTP Handler is a boilerplate template from Vercel's examples repository that deploys a Nitro server to Vercel with zero configuration, using a cached index route as its core demonstration.
What is the Nitro Cached HTTP Handler template?
This template is a minimal Nitro application designed for deployment to Vercel. It takes a basic Nitro project and produces a serverless deployment on Vercel without any manual configuration. The index route returns a cached HTTP response, making it a concrete example of server-side caching in a Nitro handler. The template is part of the vercel/examples repository, specifically the framework-boilerplates/nitro directory, and is linked from the Nitro quick start guide.
Key Features
- Zero-configuration deployment: The page includes a "Deploy with Vercel" button that clones the repository and starts a Vercel deployment directly, bypassing manual setup.
- Cached index route: The root path responds with a cached payload, demonstrating how to implement caching at the request handler level.
- Live demo: A running version of the template is hosted at https://nitro-cached-handler.labs.vercel.app, so you can inspect the cached response in a browser.
- Local development: After cloning, run
npm install(orpnpm installoryarn) and thennpm run devto start a development server. - Minimal structure: The directory contains only the essentials for a Nitro app, making it easy to read and adapt.
Who is it for?
- Nitro beginners: Developers who want a small, working Nitro server to learn how routes and handlers are structured.
- Vercel users: People who want to deploy a Nitro service quickly without configuring serverless functions or build settings manually.
- Example-driven developers: Anyone who prefers to start from a minimal, functional codebase and then expand it with their own logic.
What can you do with it?
- Learn caching on Vercel: Study how the index route returns a cached response and apply the same technique to your own serverless endpoints.
- Scaffold a Nitro service: Use the repository as the base for a production API, replacing the cached handler with routes that fit your application.
- Rapid prototype: Deploy a Nitro server to Vercel using the provided button, then iterate locally with the dev server.
How does this template work?
Deploy by clicking the "Deploy with Vercel" button, which clones the repository and creates a Vercel project. For local work, clone the repository, install dependencies with npm install (or pnpm/yarn), and start the server with npm run dev. The single index route returns a cached response, and Vercel handles the build and runtime environment automatically.
FAQ
Is the Nitro Cached HTTP Handler template free to use?
The code is part of an open-source examples repository, so the template itself is free. Deploying to Vercel requires a Vercel account; the template page does not specify any pricing details for deployment.
What is Nitro?
Nitro is the server framework used by this template. The page links to the official Nitro site and a quick start guide on nitro.unjs.io, which provide documentation for writing Nitro handlers and deploying them.
How do I run this template locally?
Clone the repository from GitHub, then run npm install (or pnpm install or yarn) to install dependencies. Start the development server with npm run dev. No other configuration is needed because the template is set up for Vercel's build system.
Can I use this template for a real application?
Yes, but it is intentionally minimal, containing only a cached index route. You would add your own routes and business logic to turn it into a full application. The template is meant as a foundation, not a complete product.
