Next.js Tutorial - GeeksforGeeks (2025)

Next.js is a popular React framework that extends React's capabilities by providing powerful tools for server-side rendering, static site generation, and full-stack development. It is widely used to build SEO-friendly, high-performance web applications easily.

• Built on React for easy development of front-end applications.
• Provides server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG).
• It comes with built-in CSS and JavaScript bundling for performance.
• Highly scalable and SEO-friendly for modern web applications.

To Start with Next.js you need to install and setup it on your Machine. Follow these articles to install depending on your system

• Next.js Installation

Let us now take a look at our first code example.

// pages/index.jsexport default function Home() { return ( <div> <h1>Welcome to the Next.js Tutorial</h1> </div> );}

It will start a server, and when you visit http://localhost:3000, it will display

Welcome to the Next.js Tutorial

In this example

• The file index.js inside the pages folder acts as the root route (/).
• The Home function is exported as the default export, making it accessible as a page.
• There is no need for manual routing configuration; Next.js handles it automatically.

In this Next.js Tutorial, we'll learn all the basic to advanced concepts such as Routing, Data Fetching, Environment Variables, Meta Tags, Static File Serving, Pre-Rendering, etc.

Why learn Next.js?

Next.js offers several advantages over traditional React development:

1. Built-in Routing and SSR: Unlike React, which lacks native routing, Next.js provides seamless routing functionality out of the box. Additionally, it supports server-side rendering, improving performance and SEO.
2. Faster Development: Next.js accelerates development by offering built-in features and conventions. Developers can focus on building features rather than configuring complex setups.
3. SEO Optimization: Next.js enhances SEO by addressing slow rendering and loading times associated with client-side rendering. Its SSR capabilities ensure that search engines can efficiently crawl and index your content.

Additionally, Next.js mitigates slow rendering and loading times inherent in client-side rendering, important for optimizing SEO performance. Its integration of server-side rendering out of the box enhances overall development efficiency and user experience.

Next.js Tutorial Prerequisites: HTML, CSS, JavaScript and React

Next.js Basic

Learn the core features and structure of Next.js to start building full-stack applications.

• Next.js Introduction
• Next.js Create Next App
• Next.js 14 Folder Structure
• Next.js src Directory
• Next VS React
• How to import image in Next.js?
• How to add stylesheet in Next.js?
• How to start Next.js server?
• Next.js Dynamic Import
• How to use Material-UI with Next.js?
• Next.js Routing
• How to Integrate MongoDB in Next.js

Next.js Routing

Next.js provides automatic routing based on the file structure in the pages directory. Learn how to implement dynamic routes and handle nested routes.

• How to get current route in Next.js?
• How to catch all routes in Next.js?
• Optional catch all routes
• Nested Routes
• Dynamic API Routes

Next.js Functions

Explore some of the core data fetching methods and functions that Next.js offers for better control over how content is rendered and served.

• Next.js getServerSideProps()
• Next.js getStaticPaths()
• Next.js generateMetadata()
• Next.js generateImageMetadata
• Next.js fetch
• Next.js generateStaticParams
• Next.js NextResponse
• Next.js NextRequest
• Next.js Data Fetching Methods

Next.js Features

Next.js has several built-in features that streamline web development and enhance performance.

• Global CSS Support
• Pages
• Static File Serving
• Pre-Rendering
• Environment Variables
• CSS Support

Practicle Code Examples

Work through practical examples to see how Next.js can be used to create dynamic, interactive applications.

• Add Custom Local Fonts in Next.js
• Add Image Carousel in Next.js
• Add Video Player in Next.js
• Add Form Validation In Next.js
• Create a Custom Error Page in Next.js
• Add Skeleton Loading in Next.js
• How to add Popup in Next.js
• How to Add Spinner Loader in Next.js
• How to Add Simple DatePicker in Next.js?
• How to add Youtube Videos in Next.js
• How to add Slider in Next.js

Advanced Topis

Explore more advanced features of Next.js that help you scale and optimize your applications.

• Migrate from Create React App to Next.js
• How to ignore ESLint in Next.js?
• Next.js Nested Routes
• Next.js Custom Server
• What is SSR in Next.js
• Next.js Optional catch all routes
• How to Reset Next.js Development Cache?
• How to Catch All Routes in Next.js?
• How to Reset Next.js Development Cache?

Next.js Interview Prepration

Prepare for interviews with common Next.js questions and answers, and practice with exercises to enhance your skills.

• Next.js Interview Questions and Answer (2024)
• Next.js Exercises, Practice Questions and Solutions.

Next.js Projects

Create real-world applications using Next.js to apply your knowledge and enhance your portfolio.

• Task Reminder App with Next.js
• Create a Quiz App with Next js
• Blogging Platform using Next JS
• Todo App using Next.js
• E-commerce Dashboard with Next.js
• Social Networking Platform using Next.js
• URL Shortener Service with Next.js
• Music Player App with Next.js
• Recipe Generator using Next.js

Features of Next.js

Next.js is a React framework that extends React's capabilities to build server-rendered and statically generated web applications. Here are some of its key features:

• Server-side Rendering (SSR): This improves SEO and initial load performance by rendering pages on the server. Content is already available for search engines to index, and users see a fully rendered page on the first load.
• Static Site Generation (SSG): This pre-renders pages at build time, making them super fast to load. Ideal for content that changes infrequently, like blog posts or landing pages.
• Automatic Code Splitting: This breaks down your application code into smaller bundles, improving load times by only loading the code needed for the current page.
• Data Fetching: Next.js offers several ways to fetch data, including getStaticProps for fetching data at build time and getServerSideProps for fetching data on each request. This flexibility allows you to choose the most appropriate method for your specific needs.
• Routing: Routing is simplified in Next.js. It automatically creates routes based on the file structure of your pages directory, making it easy to manage your application's URL structure.
• Image Optimization: Next.js automatically optimizes images, including resizing and compressing them, for faster loading times and improved SEO.
• Built-in CSS and JavaScript Bundling: Next.js takes care of bundling and optimizing your CSS and JavaScript code, streamlining the development process.
• API Routes: Next.js allows you to create serverless functions directly within your application using API routes. This lets you add backend functionality to your React application without needing a separate server.

Next.js vs React

Let’s compare Next.js with React to see how they differ in terms of flexibility and use cases.