React Framework

Next.js

The React meta-framework that adds routing, server rendering and full-stack features on top of React.

Official site

Overview

Next.js is a production framework built on React by Vercel. It takes React — which is only a UI library — and adds the parts you always end up needing: file-based routing, server-side rendering and static generation, an API/route-handler layer, image optimisation and caching.

Its App Router and React Server Components model let you render most of a page on the server and ship less JavaScript to the browser, which is good for both performance and SEO. For content-heavy or e-commerce sites in the React world, it is often the default answer.

What it is

Next.js is an opinionated, full-stack React framework. It handles rendering strategy per route (static, server-rendered, or client), gives you server components, and can serve as a backend-for-frontend with its own route handlers.

  • File-based App Router with React Server Components
  • Static generation, SSR and incremental revalidation
  • Built-in image, font and script optimisation

When we reach for it

When a client is committed to React and wants strong SEO and performance without wiring SSR by hand, Next.js is the pragmatic pick. It removes a pile of infrastructure decisions and pairs cleanly with Vercel or self-hosted Node deployments.

Trade-offs

The rendering model is powerful but genuinely complex — server vs client components, caching layers and revalidation trip up teams. You also lean toward Vercel-shaped hosting for the smoothest path. For an Angular shop like ours, we use it when the React ecosystem is the requirement rather than the default.

Common questions

Next.js — questions

Straight answers on how this fits your marketing and build.

React is the UI library; Next.js is a framework built on top of it that adds routing, server-side rendering, static generation and a backend layer. You use React to build components and Next.js to ship a full app.

Still have questions? Talk to a specialist

Takes 60 seconds · No credit card

Stop guessing. Start ranking.

Get a free audit and a 6-month roadmap showing exactly where you stand vs your top 3 competitors — no fluff, no upsell.

Trusted by 500+ brands · 4.9/5 client rating