Next.js
The React Framework

Build full-stack React applications with server-side rendering, static site generation, and more.

114k+ Stars

1,800+ Issues

24.5k Forks

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a React framework that enables functionality such as server-side rendering and static site generation. Developed by Vercel, it's designed to help build full-stack web applications by extending the latest React features.

With Next.js, you can create React apps that load faster, perform better in search engines, and provide a superior user experience through features like automatic code splitting, optimized image loading, and server-side rendering.

Released in 2016, Next.js has quickly become one of the most popular frameworks for building React applications, powering websites and web applications for companies like Netflix, TikTok, Twitch, Hulu, and many more.

Founders & Project Origin

The Founding Team

Guillermo Rauch

CEO & Co-founder, Vercel

Creator of Next.js

Lee Robinson

VP of Developer Relations, Vercel

Core team member

Tim Neutkens

CTO, Vercel

Core team member

Project Origin

Next.js was created in 2016 by Guillermo Rauch, the founder of ZEIT (now Vercel), as a solution to common problems faced when building React applications for production.

The framework emerged from the need for better server-side rendering capabilities, improved performance, and simplified deployment workflows for React applications.

What started as an internal tool at ZEIT quickly gained popularity in the React community, leading to its open-source release and rapid adoption.

In 2020, ZEIT rebranded to Vercel, but continued their commitment to developing and maintaining Next.js, which has since become the company's flagship product and one of the most widely used React frameworks.

Technology Stack

Core Technologies

React - UI library for building user interfaces
Node.js - JavaScript runtime for server-side code
Webpack - Module bundler for JavaScript applications
Babel - JavaScript compiler for backward compatibility

Common Integrations

TypeScript - Typed superset of JavaScript
Tailwind CSS - Utility-first CSS framework
Prisma - Modern database toolkit
GraphQL - Query language for APIs

Key Features

Server-Side Rendering

Render React components on the server for improved performance and SEO.

Static Site Generation

Pre-render pages at build time for maximum performance and global CDN distribution.

Image Optimization

Automatic image optimization with next/image component for faster loading.

API Routes

Create API endpoints directly in your Next.js app with serverless functions.

Fast Refresh

Instant feedback during development with preserved component state.

Responsive Design

Built-in support for responsive designs and mobile-first development.

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Improved performance with server-side rendering and static generation
Better SEO compared to client-side only React applications
Simplified routing system with file-based routing
Excellent developer experience with fast refresh
Seamless deployment with Vercel platform
Built-in optimization features for images, fonts, and scripts

Disadvantages

Steeper learning curve for developers new to React
Additional complexity compared to vanilla React
Certain features are opinionated and less flexible
Server components can be challenging to debug
Build times can be long for large applications
Some advanced configurations require deeper knowledge

Community & Reviews

GitHub Stats

Stars 114,000+

Forks 24,500+

Open Issues 1,800+

Contributors 2,800+

Release Frequency Every 1-2 months

Community Reviews

Sarah Johnson

"Next.js transformed how our team builds React applications. The server-side rendering capabilities drastically improved our SEO and initial load times. Deployment with Vercel is a breeze!"

Michael Chen

"As a full-stack developer, I love how Next.js bridges the gap between frontend and backend. API routes are a game-changer, and the documentation is excellent. The learning curve is manageable even for React newcomers."

Alex Rodriguez

"Next.js has become my go-to framework for React projects. The image optimization alone saves so much time. My only complaint is that some advanced features require digging through documentation to implement correctly."

Connect with the Community

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Latest News & Updates

June 12, 2023

Next.js 14 Released with Turbopack Improvements

The latest version brings significant improvements to Turbopack, faster local server startup, and enhanced server components.

Next.js Conference 2023 Announced

The annual Next.js conference will take place online this October, featuring workshops, keynote speeches, and community events.

Vercel Introduces New Next.js Analytics

New performance analytics tools specifically designed for Next.js applications, providing detailed insights into page load times and user experience.

Free Resources & Tools

How to Get Started with Next.js for Free

1

Install Node.js

Download and install Node.js from nodejs.org (LTS version recommended).
2

Create a new Next.js app

Run the following command in your terminal:

npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
3

Start the development server

Navigate to your project folder and start the server:

cd my-next-app
npm run dev
4

Deploy for free

Push your code to GitHub and connect it to Vercel for free hosting with automatic deployments.

Official Documentation

Comprehensive guides, API references, and tutorials from the Next.js team.

Access now

Learn Next.js Course

Free interactive course that teaches you the fundamentals of Next.js development.

Start learning

Example Projects

Open-source example projects demonstrating various Next.js features and use cases.

Browse examples

YouTube Tutorials

Free video tutorials covering Next.js basics to advanced topics.

Watch videos

Ready to Try Next.js?

Join thousands of developers building high-performance React applications with Next.js. Get started today with our free resources and community support.

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Next.js The React Framework