This document explores how the Next.js framework enables enterprise-grade React apps through server-side rendering, PWA support, and dynamic UI capabilities. Learn how Next.js works, its pros and cons, and when to use it. Hire expert Next.js developers today to scale your digital strategy with confidence. Learn More: https://mobisoftinfotech.com/resources/blog/next-js-framework

1. A Comprehensive Guide to Next JS Framework
for 2023
Working on a JavaScript application backed by React is nothing less than a challenge. You
have to deal with various issues related to client-side rendering, code-splitting, and app
performance, to name a few. Thanks to modern development frameworks like NextJS
that have come up as the go-to solution to overcome these issues in a hassle-free way.
The right implementation of the Next JS framework in your project successfully caters to
all your Server Side Rendering (SSR) requirements and also accelerates the overall app
development project performance.
With Next.js, your company gets the privilege to develop and deploy future-ready
applications that your users would love to interact with. This blog is all about exploring
the advantages of Next.js and understanding what makes this platform so unique. You
will get detailed insights into the basics of Next.js, its importance, best practices to
implement it, and much more. So, let’s understand it in detail.

2. What is Next JS?
Next JS is a full-fledged JavaScript UI framework that enables you to create superior,
user-friendly static websites and web apps using React. It effectively handles the
configuration and tooling related to React alongside offering necessary optimizations,
features, and an architecture to support each development stage. Powered by React,
Webpack, and Babel, this framework helps you develop intuitive products and solutions
for all web browsers which run on Mac OS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
With Next.js, you can easily build hybrid apps that hold both statistically generated and
server side rendered pages. To put it simply, your pages would be reactive in every
manner as the framework pushes your app’s client side to offer complete interactivity
and interoperability. Some famous companies such as Hulu, Twitch, Uber, Netflix, and
Nike also use Next JS to build their successful applications.
Here are the key features of the Next JS UI framework to give you a better idea.
●​ Image Component and Optimization ​
The image component next/image is an extension of the HTML <img> element
designed to satisfy modern web development needs. It consists of an array of
built-in optimizations such as visual stability, asset flexibility, faster page loads,
performance enhancement, etc., to help you achieve desired Core Web Vitals.
●​ Internationalized Routing​
From v10.0.0, Next JS has prioritized built-in support for internationalized routing
(i18n). This support intends to complement existing i18n library solutions. You
just need to assign a list of locales, domain-based locales, and the default locale.

3. Later, the Next JavaScript framework will handle all the routing requirements
automatically.
●​ Dedicated Analytics​
Get access to actual visitor data to analyze real experience scores. The framework
helps you gather web vitals from real devices that your visitors use. You gain
actionable insights into the source code and pages that are contributing to the
score. This helps in quick pivoting and iteration to improve overall performance
and workflow.
●​ Zero-configuration​
Next JS facilitates automatic bundling and compilation to create new apps via
create-next-app. This feature is optimized for production from the start to
support Node JS 12.22.0 or later versions. It also offers complete assistance for
platforms like macOS, Linux, and Windows (including WSL).
●​ Hybrid Data Fetching ​
Depending on your app’s use case, you can render your content in several ways
with Next JS Server Side Rendering and Server Side Generation (SSG). You can also
update or create content for a particular use case at runtime with the help of
Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR).
●​ Incremental Static Regeneration(ISR)​
You can develop or modify your static pages with this framework. It enables your
NextJS developers to use static generation page-by-page with Incremental Static

4. Regeneration and avoid the complexities of rebuilding the site. With this, you can
achieve high scalability while retaining the advantages of being static.
●​ TypeScript Support​
The Next JS framework offers automatic TypeScript configuration and
compilation for APIs, Pages, and more. This built-in support feature gives an
integrated TypeScript experience to start a new project from scratch or make
changes to an existing one. You get enough room to exploit custom compiler
options for the same.
●​ Fast Refresh​
Any changes and edits made to your React components can be viewed instantly
with Fast Refresh. It is a default feature for all Next JS apps on 9.4 or the latest
versions. With this, you get a live-editing experience and instantaneous feedback
to keep your app up and running in accordance with the component state.
●​ File-system Routing​
The framework is driven by a file-system-based router that eliminates the need to
configure any URL for routing purposes. This router promotes automatic routing
around pages. It converts each component in the pages’ directory into a route with
an added provision to define nested, index, and dynamic routes.
●​ API Routes​
API routes is an important Next JS feature that helps you develop API seamlessly.
Basically, it helps to create API endpoints that offer robust backend functionality.

5. It focuses on the server side only bundles without making any changes or
increasing the size of your client side bundling.
●​ Built-in CSS Support​
With this feature, you get dedicated Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets (Sass)
support. You can import CSS files from a JavaScript file as Next JS extends the
method of import beyond JavaScript. You can build component-level styles with
the CSS modules using the file naming convention – [name].module.css.
●​ Code-splitting and Bundling​
Next JS has the potential to render pages with the needed libraries as per the
project requirements. It concentrates on the creation of multiple resources rather
than a large solo JavaScript file. As such, whenever a page loads, you can view the
required JavaScript page with it.
How to Approach Next JS?
After understanding the basics, it is time to consider some essential tools and
technologies that can help you kickstart your development journey with Next JS. You
need to make sure that you along with your team are well acquainted with the below.
1 HTML/CSS
These technologies are the key to establishing a robust frontend web development
environment. Some of the most important topics include Document Object Model (DOM)
elements in HTML/CSS, basic attributes and tags in CSS and HTML properties, and

6. pseudo-elements, box model, pseudo-selectors and selectors, layout systems (grid and
flexbox) in CSS.
2 JavaScript
An in-depth understanding of JavaScript can prove beneficial while approaching Next JS.
However, basic knowledge of essentials like DOM, language, use of syntax, and ES6+
concepts is also enough to start your project. Know-how of general programming
concepts such as loops, variables, functions, and recursions along with typecasting
would be an add-on.
3 React
Another significant consideration is to have a good command of Next JS React concepts
and functional components. You can also learn React separately and get exposed to key
topics like JSX expressions, state management with useEffect and useState hooks,
fetching data with React Query, and routing with React-router. Familiarity with a layout
system like Tailwind CSS or Material UI can also help you stand out.
Next JS 12.1: What’s New?
Every new version of Next JS is bringing in a unique set of advantages for its users. The
same goes for its latest 12.1 version, which was released in February 2022. The highlights
include the most requested features, bug fixes, performance improvements, and
additional functionalities. Now, you can use the on-demand ISR (Beta) feature to globally
revalidate pages using getStaticProps faster and better than ever before. The release has
extended further support for styled-components, importSource, legacy-decorators, relay,
remove-react-properties, and remove-console with its Rust-based Speedy Web Compiler
(SWC).

7. Next JS 12.1 has introduced an all-new next/jest plugin that offers zero-configuration
Jest support via SWC. Minification with SWC has shown some great results and is now in
Release Candidate (RC) with this current version to become the complete default for the
upcoming 12.2 release. Self-hosting enhancements have been introduced to reduce the
size of Docker images. Another important update is that users can now exploit React 18,
Server Side Suspense, Streaming SSR, and Server Components with the Alpha version.
There are many other improvements and additions like built-in ESLint integration,
faster image optimization, fast refresh while using Middleware, and the inclusion of
node-fetch to improve security and create a smaller installation size that will surely help
Next JS developers make the most out of the Next JS framework. To check the full list of
features with detailed information, click here.
Next JS Pros and Cons
Whether you are a business owner, marketer, or developer, leveraging Next JS app
development will help you reap various benefits in the long run. But there are also some
limitations to this platform that you need to consider. Let’s take a look at them
separately.
Pros
●​ Better Conversions​
Next JS offers total control over online stores, mobile applications, websites, or
any other digital products. This positively impacts your sales funnel and helps
you increase the conversion rate.

8. ●​ Responsiveness and Adaptability​
Mobile or web apps built with Next JS possess higher adaptability and flexibility.
They have the potential to satisfy every screen size. They can resolve multiple
user requests quickly and efficiently.
●​ Data Security ​
The framework successfully delivers static products and solutions that have no
direct connection with the user information, dependencies, company database, or
any other sensitive data. This ultimately increases the level of data security.
●​ Faster Time-to-market​
The predefined components of Next JS quicken the entire app development
process. It helps you plan faster releases while gathering feedback to invest your
time, capital, and effort in core production areas.
●​ Omnichannel ​
The Next JS applications or websites are easily accessible from any mobile device.
This helps your company to present and sell products and services across multiple
sales channels worldwide.
●​ On-demand Support​
The Next JS development community is continuously growing to fulfill the
demand for professionals across the industry. You can easily hire Next.js
developers for your project as and when required. Check tech expertise of
dedicated developers here.

9. ●​ Custom Experiences​
Software development with Next JS delivers custom experiences. It creates
enterprise-grade apps and websites that act as a key differentiator for businesses
and also optimizes your marketing efforts.
Cons
●​ Build Time​
Next JS is driven by static development which can negatively impact the build
time of your apps and websites. Completing complex tasks within stipulated
timelines will become a triggering issue.
●​ Overhead Costs​
As the framework is unable to render built-in front pages, it becomes imperative
for developers to create the complete frontend layer from scratch. This leads to
uninvited, additional expenses.
●​ Built-in State Manager​
Next JS lacks a built-in state manager to satisfy UI programming requirements. To
regulate the interface and explore Next JS state management capabilities, you
need to utilize technologies like Redux and MobX.
●​ Plugin Support ​
The framework is low on plugins in comparison to its competitors like Gatsby JS.
The absence of the needed plugin support makes your app development complex
and limits overall project progress.

10. Read More: https://mobisoftinfotech.com/resources/blog/next-js-framework