Features
- React Server Components with streaming
- App Router with nested layouts
- Hybrid rendering (SSG, SSR, ISR, client)
- Built-in image, font, and script optimization
- API routes and server actions
Pros
- Most popular React framework with massive ecosystem
- Excellent developer experience with fast refresh
- Seamless deployment on Vercel with edge support
- Strong community and corporate backing
Cons
- App Router complexity and learning curve
- Tight coupling with Vercel for optimal experience
- Bundle size can be large for simple applications
Overview
Next.js is the leading React framework, developed by Vercel, that enables you to build full-stack web applications with React. It provides a robust set of features including server-side rendering, static site generation, incremental static regeneration, and the latest React Server Components — all through a file-system based router.
The App Router, built on React Server Components, allows you to build UIs that render on the server and can optionally include client-side interactivity. This architecture reduces the amount of JavaScript sent to the browser and enables powerful patterns like streaming, nested layouts, and server actions for mutations.
When to Use
Next.js is the right choice for most React projects that need SSR, SSG, or a hybrid approach. It’s particularly strong for marketing sites, e-commerce, SaaS dashboards, and any application where SEO, performance, and developer experience matter. It’s the default recommendation in the React ecosystem.
Getting Started
npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript
cd my-app && npm run dev// app/page.tsx
export default function Home() {
return <h1>Hello, Next.js!</h1>;
}