What is Nextjs framework?
Building server-side rendered and statically produced web apps is made easier with the help of Nextjs. This potent open-source react framework was developed by Vercel in 2016.
It was first released on GitHub. Next.js offers a variety of features and updates to improve developer productivity and applications. It is the foundation of creating modern React applications. You must be thinking what is the latest version of Nextjs. Thus, the latest version of Next.js is v14.3.0-canary.21.
What is Nextjs for?
As I explained above what is Nextjs framework, let’s understand what is Nextjs used for. Below are the use cases of Nextjs:
- Server-Side Rendering: By rendering React components on the server side before delivering them to the client, Nextjs enables developers to enhance SEO and performance. Thus, it is beneficial for websites and web applications with a lot of content that needs quick page loads.
- Static Site Generation: Furthermore, Nextjs can pre-render pages at build time, generating static HTML files for improved performance and SEO. This approach is ideal for websites with content that doesn’t change frequently, such as blogs or marketing sites.
- File-based Routing: Next.js simplifies routing by allowing developers to create pages and routes based on the file system structure. Thus, the organization of code and the creation of intuitive URL structures becomes easier.
- API Routes: Furthermore, Nextjs provides built-in support for creating API routes, allowing developers to define serverless API endpoints within their Next.js applications.
- Automatic Code Splitting: Nextjs automatically splits code into smaller bundles, reducing initial page load times and improving performance.
- CSS-in-JS Support: Nextjs supports various CSS-in-JS solutions out of the box, making it easy to style components using popular libraries like styled-components or CSS modules.
- Hot Module Replacement: Nextjs supports HMR, allowing developers to see changes reflected in the browser in real time without losing the application state.
What is the difference between React and Nextjs?
React is also an open-source framework like Nextjs but, it is developed by Meta. React was first released in 2013. Thereafter, developers started using React to develop huge applications.
On the other hand, Nextjs uses React and offers more functionalities and ease in the development of web applications. Let’s understand the difference between React and Next.js in detail.
Firstly, React is a JavaScript library for building UI & maintained by Facebook. Now, what is Nextjs? Next.js is a React framework for building SSR and static web applications developed by Vercel. The latest version released for React is 18.2.0 and for Next.js is v14.3.0-canary.21.
React provides a component-based architecture. Thus, it allows React developers to create reusable UI components that manage their own state. On the contrary, as mentioned before, Nextjs extends React. It provides a streamlined development experience and built-in features for web development.
To sum up, Nextjs is a framework that was developed on top of React and offers further capabilities and optimizations for creating server-side rendered and statically produced web apps.
React is a JavaScript toolkit used to create UI. It may be used in isolation by developers to create client-side apps, or in conjunction with Next.js to make use of its built-in functionalities for server-side rendering, routing, and other web development tasks. You can go through the comparison in detail in our React vs Nextjs blog.
How to handle Nextjs ‘window is not defined’?
After knowing what is Nextjs & developing applications using Nextjs framework & React, it is typical to run across the issue ‘window is not defined’. When trying to execute the window object in a situation where it is unavailable, such as in Nodejs or while SSR, this error happens.
We may utilize the conditional rendering approach in React & Nextjs to tackle the ‘window is not defined’ problem. We may render particular components or run code based on conditions by using conditional rendering.
Just implement conditional rendering – (typeof window !== ‘undefined’) and handle the ‘window is not defined’ error.
Conclusion
In the conclusion of this blog ‘What is Nextjs’, Nextjs is a potent framework that expands on React’s capabilities in the dynamic world of web development. It provides simplified development and pre-built functionality for creating server-side rendered and statically produced web apps.
Nextjs gives developers the tools they need to easily and quickly construct contemporary online apps. These tools include automated code splitting, built-in API routes, SSR and static site generation support, and more.
Nextjs is a useful tool that helps us construct high-performance online experiences and realize the full potential of React as we work through the challenges of web development.
FAQs
Is Nextjs suitable for beginners in web development?
Yes, Next.js can be a great framework for beginners due to its intuitive API, built-in features, and extensive documentation. It simplifies many aspects of web development, allowing beginners to focus on learning React while still building powerful web applications.
Can Next.js be used for e-commerce websites?
Absolutely! Nextjs is well-suited for building e-commerce websites, offering features like server-side rendering and automatic code splitting that can improve performance and SEO. Many popular e-commerce platforms leverage Next.js for their front-end development.
Does Nextjs support internationalization out of the box?
While Nextjs itself doesn’t provide built-in support for internationalization, there are several community-supported libraries and packages available that integrate seamlessly with Next.js to add internationalization capabilities to your applications.
What are some popular companies using Next.js in production?
Many well-known companies and startups use Next.js in production, including Nike, Solos, Spotify, Nerdwallet, and more. Its versatility and performance make it a popular choice for building scalable and high-traffic web applications.
Is it possible to deploy Nextjs applications on platforms other than Vercel?
Yes, Nextjs apps can be deployed on various hosting platforms, including Vercel. Next.js provides flexibility in deployment options, allowing developers to choose the platform that best suits their needs and preferences.
Shivangi is a passionate Copywriter at Alian Software with expertise in technical copywriting. She shares information that is easy to understand regarding business, technology, and trends.