Next.js
react javascript framework frontend web-development
What is Next.js?
Next.js is a framework built on top of React that makes it easier to create full-featured web applications.
It adds important capabilities that React doesn’t include out of the box, like server-side rendering, simplified routing, and automatic code splitting, all while keeping the developer experience simple and intuitive.
Simple Analogy
Think of building a website like making a meal:
- Plain React is like being given ingredients and basic cooking tools. You can make delicious food, but you need to decide on recipes, preparation methods, and how to serve everything.
- Next.js is like getting a meal kit with pre-measured ingredients, recipe cards, and special cooking tools included. You’re still cooking, but many decisions are already made for you, and the common problems are solved. You can focus on adding your special touch rather than figuring out the basics.
Key Features
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Generates HTML on the server for better performance and SEO
- Static Site Generation (SSG): Pre-renders pages at build time for ultra-fast loading
- Incremental Static Regeneration: Updates static pages without rebuilding the entire site
- File-Based Routing: Create pages by adding files to the pages directory - no complex router setup
- API Routes: Build API endpoints as part of your Next.js application
- Image Optimization: Automatically optimize images for better performance
- Zero Configuration: Works out of the box with sensible defaults
- Fast Refresh: See changes instantly without losing component state
When to Use Next.js
- Building websites that need good SEO
- Creating web applications that need fast initial loading
- When you want React but don’t want to configure everything yourself
- Sites with many pages that benefit from automatic code splitting
- Projects that need both frontend and simple backend API functionality