A comprehensive comparison between Next.js and React based on hands-on experience, covering routing, performance, configuration, and when to choose each.
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My drive to become a better developer recently led me to explore and learn Next.js. With a year of experience in React and several projects under my belt using the MERN stack, I was eager to dive into this highly acclaimed framework.
I enrolled in a course to understand Next.js, comparing it with my existing knowledge of React and the MERN stack. I quickly noticed several significant improvements that simplify a developer's workflow. In this blog, I'll share my insights based on my experience building projects with Next.js.
Let's get started!
First, it's essential to understand the core difference between Next.js and React: Next.js is a framework, while React is a library.
A library is a collection of pre-written code that developers can use to perform common tasks, saving time and effort. It focuses on specific functionalities and offers more flexibility, allowing developers to choose how they want to integrate the code into their applications.
A framework provides a comprehensive structure and set of tools for building applications. Frameworks enforce a specific way of doing things, offering built-in solutions for common tasks and guiding the overall architecture of the application.
| Aspect | React (Library) | Next.js (Framework) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | High — choose your own tools | Lower — follows conventions |
| Setup | Manual configuration needed | Pre-configured out of the box |
| Routing | External libraries required | Built-in file-based routing |
| Rendering | Client-side by default | SSR, SSG, and CSR options |
Next.js is a robust framework that provides a complete solution for web development. It includes built-in features like file-based routing, server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes, which streamline the development process and ensure best practices are followed.
React, by contrast, is a flexible library focused on building user interfaces. It allows developers to create reusable UI components and integrate them with other tools and libraries for routing, state management, and server-side rendering, offering a highly customizable development experience.
Next.js follows a defined folder structure, while React offers complete freedom in how you want to organize your application. In Next.js, this folder structure forms the basis for routing.
For example, a page located at /app/users/new/page.tsx can be accessed using the route http://localhost/users/new. This is known as a file-based routing system.
In contrast, React requires the use of external third-party libraries, such as React Router, to handle routing. With React Router, you need to define your routes and the components to be rendered on those routes manually.
In Next.js, you must adhere to certain conventions when naming files:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
page.tsx | Corresponds to specific endpoints in your application |
layout.tsx | Defines the layout for pages within specific routes |
not-found.tsx | Custom 404 pages displayed for non-existent routes |
loading.tsx | Loading animation while the main page is loading |
error.tsx | Handles errors that might occur while using the application |
| Aspect | Next.js | React |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Pre-configured for major dependencies | Full customization required |
| Configuration | Minimal setup needed | Requires time and effort upfront |
| Development speed | Faster start | Slower initial setup |
In Next.js, you're provided with a pre-configured setup for all majorly used dependencies and structures, streamlining the development process.
On the other hand, React gives you the freedom to fully customize and configure your application according to your specific requirements and preferences.
Next.js outperforms React because of its integrated features for Server-Side Rendering and Static Site Generation. These enhance SEO and initial loading times significantly.
In Next.js, we have the capability to build API routes following REST API standards directly within the framework.
We can define our API routes in the /app/api directory. To access an API at /app/api/user/route.tsx, we can use http://localhost/api/users.
Understanding Next.js requires a solid grasp of React since it's built on top of React, which can make the learning curve steeper.
There's debate over whether one should learn React before diving into Next.js, but ultimately, both require the same core practice of defining code in reusable components. The key difference lies in Next.js' requirement for a specific standard and structure, while React allows more freedom in structuring your code.
| Platform | Next.js | React |
|---|---|---|
| Vercel | Seamless integration (built by Vercel) | Supported |
| Netlify | Supported | Supported |
| AWS/Azure/GCP | Supported | Supported |
| Self-hosted | Supported | Supported |
Next.js, being developed by Vercel, simplifies the integration process significantly. By linking your GitHub account and selecting the repository, Next.js automatically sets up a pipeline for building and deploying the application.
After weighing the essential differences between Next.js and React, I've come to realize that:
Based on this assessment, I've decided to move forward with Next.js as the framework for my future projects. Its enhanced developer experience and convenient configurations align better with my preferences and project requirements.
I appreciate you sticking around! I'm curious to hear your thoughts on React and Next.js and which one you prefer. Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
Keep Learning!
