Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2025
Next.js is a powerful and flexible React framework that has quickly become popular among developers for building server-side rendered and static web applications. Created by Vercel, Next.js simplifies the process of developing modern web applications with its robust feature set. In this article, we’ll explore the key concepts of Next.js, its features, and how to get started.
What is Next.js?Next.js is a React-based framework designed to enhance the development of web applications by providing a variety of built-in features such as server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes. It aims to simplify the complex aspects of web development, allowing developers to focus on building their applications rather than dealing with configuration and setup. Next.js is fast and works well with other tools and libraries.
History of Next.jsNext.js was created by Vercel (formerly ZEIT) to simplify the development of React applications with server-side rendering. The framework quickly gained popularity due to its performance optimizations and ease of use. The current stable version of Next.js is 15.2.3, released on March 19, 2025. The framework continues to evolve, introducing new features with each update.
How Does Next.js Work?Next.js operates by enabling both server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG), allowing developers to choose the best rendering method for their application’s needs:
Both methods improve performance and SEO by ensuring fast, optimized content delivery.
Features of Next.jspages
directory. This makes it easy to organize and manage your application’s structure.Before using Next.js, you need to have Node.js installed. You can download and install Node.js from the official Node.js website.
Step 2: Initialize the Next.js ProjectNow create a folder for your project on the desktop navigate to the folder through your code editor and run the following command on the terminal.
npx create-next-app@latestStep 3: Configure your next.js app
#OR
yarn create next-app
#OR
pnpm create next-app
Write the project name (default my-app) and choose other configuration options
Next.js Installation Folder Structure Folder StructureNow, let us understand with the help of the example
JavaScript
// pages/index.js
export default function Home() {
return (
<div>
<h1>Hello, World!</h1>
</div>
);
}
Output
Next.js Introduction Next.js LifecycleEvery Next.js application has a lifecycle that includes various stages, such as initialization, rendering, and updating. Understanding these phases helps manage state, perform side effects, and optimize components effectively.
InitializationThis stage involves setting up the initial state and configuring the application. This is done during the initial load of the application.
Rendering PhaseRetroSearch is an open source project built by @garambo | Open a GitHub Issue
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