Next.js

Definition

Next.js is an open-source React framework designed for building fast, scalable, and user-friendly web applications. It extends React by adding features such as server-side rendering, static site generation, API routes, and image optimisation. These capabilities make it easier to create production-ready applications without requiring extensive custom setup.

Next.js is widely used for websites, SaaS platforms, e-commerce stores, and enterprise applications. It helps improve performance, SEO, and developer productivity by combining modern frontend development with backend flexibility.

Advanced

At an advanced level, Next.js supports hybrid rendering, allowing developers to combine server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and client-side rendering in the same project. It also includes incremental static regeneration (ISR), enabling pages to update after deployment without a full rebuild.

Next.js integrates with APIs, CMS platforms, and headless commerce systems, making it central to composable architecture. Advanced features include built-in support for TypeScript, dynamic routing, image optimisation, and edge rendering. Deployment is often streamlined through Vercel, the platform created by the same team behind Next.js.

Why it matters

• Improves SEO and performance with optimised rendering strategies.
• Reduces development complexity by providing built-in solutions.
• Scales effectively for small websites and large enterprise applications.
• Supports modern development patterns like headless and composable architectures.

Use cases

• Building SEO-friendly marketing websites with static site generation.
• Developing e-commerce platforms with server-side rendering for personalisation.
• Creating SaaS dashboards with hybrid rendering and API routes.
• Launching blogs or media sites with incremental static regeneration.

Metrics

• Page load speed and Core Web Vitals performance.
• SEO visibility and organic traffic growth.
• Build times and efficiency of incremental regeneration.
• Developer adoption and productivity rates.

Issues

• Larger bundle sizes if not optimised correctly.
• Requires server or hosting platforms that support SSR.
• Steeper learning curve for developers unfamiliar with React or rendering models.
• Frequent framework updates may require ongoing maintenance.

Example

A fashion retailer builds its online store using Next.js. Product pages are pre-rendered for SEO with static site generation, while personalised recommendations are rendered server-side for logged-in users. The hybrid setup improves site speed, enhances organic search visibility, and increases conversions by 15 percent.