Next.js is a JavaScript framework that uses React to build Server Side Render (SSR) applications and statically generated websites. The Next.js framework was created relatively recently – in 2016 within Vercel (formerly Zeit). Its main task is to work with Server Side Render applications written in React. You can do it yourself using ReactDOMServer and conditional Express.js, but still, this, because the developer writes a lot of boilerplate code anyway. Next.js takes the development of SSR applications to the next level and dilutes it with various optimizations.
Next.js is a more optimized framework for SSR apps. Therefore, Next js development services are very popular.
Features of Next.js
A web developer who is already familiar with React will be able to master Next without any problems since it is an extended version. Of the main additions that are important in developing and further optimizing the site, there are:
Server Side Render (SSR) allows you to get and configure access to all the necessary data on the server side, including live server, when changes in the code are displayed on the page in real-time. This tool allows web pages to load in less time, plus it makes the user experience more convenient by improving the response speed.
Improved search engine optimization projects. This is partly the merit of SSR, as better work with the back-end gives an advantage in SEO optimization.
Ability to edit the <head> tag. In React.js, this tag was not editable, and yet it is the site’s main meta-component, which helps promote the site in search engine results.
Next.js functioning
Next.js follows six core principles:
- Work without setting. Using the File System as an API;
- JavaScript only. Everything is a function;
- Automatic Server Side Rendering and code-splitting;
- The mechanism for obtaining data is determined by the developer;
- Preload for better performance;
- Easy deployment and deployment.
Over the years, the project has acquired features, Google itself has contributed to its development and optimization, and large companies like Uber, Netflix, GitHub, and others use the technology. And even in the React documentation itself, it was included as one of the toolchains for development.
Pros and cons of Next.js
Support for SSR can be singled out as the main advantage, as it allows you to increase performance and improve the site’s position in search results. Here is a more comprehensive list of Next.js benefits:
- Loading applications is much faster than their counterparts developed in pure React. This is achieved through built-in server-side rendering.
- There is support for exporting static sites.
- Very easy to learn if you’ve worked with the React.js framework before.
- Automatic code splitting for pages is provided.
- Simplified creation of internal APIs and API endpoints. This is possible due to the built-in API routes.
- There are own plugins for working with Next.js. Their presence allows you to adapt the working environment completely to your needs.
- Most third-party plugins for React.js are supported. They will work correctly with Next.js as well.
- The logic of working with components and properties is practically the same as in React.js.
Nevertheless, Next.js is not an addition to React.js or others, but a separate framework, albeit created on its basis. This means that a set of certain algorithms and tools are presented here, which may differ from those used in React. The developer will have to adapt to this. Actually, this is the main and only drawback of Next.js. It can also be noted that the developer community is just being formed, since the framework is relatively young.
Development and future of the framework
A large and active community has formed around Next.js, and the framework itself is actively supported and developed by developers. All updates are published on the blog and are detailed in the documentation, next to a full-fledged interactive tutorial).
Next.js is actively used and supported by large companies like Google, and Vercel offers a convenient infrastructure for deploying applications. So it’s safe to say that Next.js will not die soon, and you can safely use it for production, as many other companies do.