Next.js is a React framework that supports different rendering strategies, including Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Static Site Generation (SSG), and Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR). This document summarizes the main advantages and disadvantages of using Next.js, with links to a more detailed Beginner Next.js Workshop Cheat Sheet located in the Next.js_intro.md file.
Next.js enhances SEO by allowing pages to be pre-rendered, meaning search engines can access fully rendered HTML right from the start, improving crawlability and ranking potential. This avoids the SEO pitfalls of client-side rendering.
- More details in the Beginner Cheat Sheet – SEO section.
Pre-rendering pages on the server leads to faster time to first contentful paint (FCP). This benefits users by delivering visible content quickly.
- For deeper discussion, check out Next.js Approach in the Cheat Sheet.
With file-based routing, creating routes is as simple as placing files in the pages/ directory. No need for complex route configuration like in traditional React setups.
- See the Routing in Next.js section for more examples.
Next.js gives developers multiple rendering options:
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Static Generation (SSG): Pre-renders pages at build time.
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Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Generates pages dynamically for each request.
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Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR): Allows post-build updates for individual pages.
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More information on these rendering methods is in the Pre-rendering section.
Next.js allows the creation of backend API routes with minimal configuration, enabling developers to build full-stack applications using the same framework.
- Learn more in the API Routes section.
Next.js introduces new concepts such as SSR, SSG, and ISR, which may increase the complexity for developers accustomed to client-side React applications.
- Refer to the Rendering Strategies section in the Cheat Sheet.
For larger applications, Static Generation (SSG) can result in long build times because each page must be pre-rendered. Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) helps, but initial builds can still be slow for massive sites.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR) shifts the rendering workload to the server. This requires a strong server infrastructure, especially for high-traffic applications, which could increase hosting costs.
- More details on SSR are available in the SSR section of the Cheat Sheet.
While the term "hydration" used to describe how React makes static HTML interactive has evolved, with React 18's concurrent features, Next.js now benefits from Streaming SSR, allowing partial rendering of content for better performance.
- For updated information, explore the new React 18 SSR docs.
Not all platforms support Next.js's SSR capabilities. Although static pages can be hosted on most platforms, SSR often requires Node.js or serverless environments like Vercel or AWS Lambda.
Next.js is a powerful tool for building React applications with improved SEO, faster load times, and flexible rendering options. However, it introduces a learning curve and infrastructure challenges, especially for those migrating from traditional client-side React. Developers should carefully assess the pros and cons based on their project requirements.
For a detailed guide on Next.js, refer to the Beginner Cheat Sheet found in the Next.js_intro.md file.