As web-based applications become more sophisticated, frontend and backend lines gets blur. One such example of this change is NextJS. NextJS is a framework that enables React applications to render on the server side. But it isn’t just that. It pushes React into territories that it wasn’t initially designed for, filling in gaps and streamlining the development process.
React and NextJS – A Beautiful Tango
React, as many know, is a JavaScript library built to create user interfaces. It does this primarily on the client side. While it’s incredible at this, it left a void when it comes to server-side rendering. That’s where NextJS comes in. With NextJS, React can now render on the server, resulting in faster page loads and, importantly, better SEO. To visualize this, imagine writing a React component. This component will be server-rendered by default in NextJS, offering immediate performance benefits.
At the heart of NextJS’s ability to offer server-side capabilities is NodeJS. NextJS applications run on the server, more specifically, on NodeJS. This not only allows for server-side rendering, but also offers developers the power to write server-side code, making NextJS a bridge between frontend React code and backend NodeJS logic.
With NextJS, we aren’t just talking about server-side rendering for React. We’re exploring a tool that transforms the way we build web applications. Websites using NextJS can expect blazing fast load times. The framework takes care of many optimizations right out of the box, like “lazy loading” and automatic code splitting, ensuring only necessary code runs.
Developers aren’t left out of the fun either. There is a ton of support, tutorials, and plugins available, allowing for more sophisticated development processes. This results in a fantastic user experience, thanks to the optimizations and the ability to integrate perfectly with the power of React. An important benefit for businesses is a faster time to market for their digital products, ensuring they remain competitive.
Moreover, NextJS has its eyes set on one of the primary issues with single-page applications (SPAs) built using client-side libraries/frameworks like React: SEO. With server-rendered content, the problems of SPAs in SEO are almost entirely negated.
NextJS is a powerful tool that every modern web developer should consider in their toolkit. It is reshaping the landscape, merging the frontend and backend closer than ever. By leveraging the strengths of React and addressing its limitations with server-side rendering and NodeJS integration, NextJS ensures the creation of high-performance, SEO-friendly, and efficiently built web applications.
Suleyman Cabir Ataman, PhD
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