Skip to main content

intro

What is Next.js?​

Next.js is a React framework that makes building modern, fast, and scalable web applications easier.

It provides a lot of features out-of-the-box that you’d otherwise have to manually set up in a standard React app.

✅ Why Use Next.js Instead of Just React?​

FeatureReact (Default)Next.js
RoutingManual (e.g., react-router)Built-in File-based routing
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)Manual setup neededBuilt-in
Static Site Generation (SSG)Not supported directlyBuilt-in
API RoutesNot availableBuilt-in
SEO-FriendlyNeeds setupBuilt-in SEO support
Image OptimizationManualBuilt-in <Image /> component
PerformanceDepends on setupOptimized by default

🛠️ Core Features of Next.js​

  1. File-Based Routing​

    • Pages are created using the pages/ directory.
    • Every .js, .jsx, .ts, or .tsx file in pages/ becomes a route automatically.
    • Example:
      • pages/index.js → /
      • pages/about.js → /about

  2. Pre-rendering​

    • Next.js can render HTML in advance, improving performance and SEO.
    • Two main types:
      • Static Generation (SSG): HTML is generated at build time.
      • Server-Side Rendering (SSR): HTML is generated on each request.

  3. API Routes​

    • You can create backend API endpoints by adding files inside pages/api/.
    • Example: pages/api/hello.js → /api/hello

  4. Built-in CSS Support​

    • Supports CSS, Sass, CSS Modules, and also works well with Tailwind CSS.

  5. Fast Refresh​

    • See changes instantly during development without losing component state.

  6. Image Optimization​

    • <Image /> component automatically optimizes images for faster loading.

  7. Built-in Head Management​

    • Use the next/head component to manage HTML <head> tags (like title, meta).

  8. Dynamic Routing​

    • Create dynamic pages using brackets:
      • pages/post/[id].js → /post/123, /post/abc, etc.

📦 Next.js vs Create React App (CRA)​

AspectCreate React AppNext.js
SetupSimpleSimple
RoutingManualAutomatic
SSRNoYes
Static GenerationNoYes
SEOWeakStrong
API RoutesNoYes
Code SplittingPartialAutomatic
Image OptimizationNoYes

🚀 Use Cases for Next.js​

  • Blogs and Content Sites (SEO-friendly)
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Dashboards with dynamic + static pages
  • Hybrid apps (partially static, partially dynamic)
  • Any production-grade React app

📘 Summary​

Next.js = React + Extra Superpowers for Production-Ready Web Development

It simplifies routing, improves SEO, handles SSR/SSG, and even lets you build full-stack apps with built-in API routes. It’s a go-to choice for modern React-based apps.

Let me know the next topic you'd like notes on!