Next.js was created to solve common challenges in web development, such as performance, SEO, and server-side rendering. In the early days, developers relied on basic , jQuery, and traditional server-side rendering.
As web applications grew, frameworks like React and Angular introduced component-based development, making UI building easier.
However, these frameworks mainly focused on client-side rendering, which sometimes led to slow loading times and SEO issues. Next.js emerged as a solution, combining the power of React with server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG). It improves performance, enhances SEO, and simplifies routing. With built-in API routes and hybrid rendering capabilities, Next.js makes it easier to build scalable, efficient web applications.
Today, it is widely used by developers and companies to create fast, modern websites with a great user experience. also react.js
in 2015, React.js entered the scene. However, even thejourney of JavaScript in the IT industry hasn't been exceptionally long.Originally developed by Brenden Eich at Netscape in 1995, JavaScriptgained significant popularity during the 2000s.This was largely due to Google's ingenious utilization of JavaScript tointroduce interactive and dynamic features for map exploration.Subsequently, developers were introduced to frameworks and libraries, including jQuery, Angular, NodeJs, ReactJs, and, most recently, NextJs.These technologies have revolutionized the web developmentlandscape, offering developers various capabilities and possibilities.You might wonder why this information is relevant in the context. Thesignificance lies in the fact that it highlights the timeless truth that"change is constant." As we continue to advance and evolve as asociety, our tools and technologies will naturally progress alongside us.We have no other option but to embrace and adapt to these changes. Itserves as a reminder that our willingness to embrace new ideas andtechnologies is essential for growth and success in the ever-changingIT industry landscape.These technologies and tools share a common purpose: to enhancework efficiency and improve performance. In this era, we can still usevanilla JavaScript or create websites using HTML and CSS without adoubt.
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We could have talked about the “big picture” of using React or evenAngular over vanilla code, but it is worth mentioning a few foundational reasons why these new tools make development more efficient:Architecture — React and Angular follow a Component-BasedArchitecture, encouraging code reusability. For instance, if you create acomponent like a Button, you can use it anywhere in the application asoften as needed. This reusability enhances the maintainability andscalability of the application. Virtual DOM — The Virtual DOM is a lightweight representation of theactual DOM. It facilitates efficient and optimized updates to the userinterface, resulting in improved performance. Simply put, it trackschanges within the application and performs a "diffing" process bycomparing the previous version of the virtual DOM with the new version.It identifies the differences and updates the real DOM accordingly.<b>Ecosystem & Community</b> — Modern libraries like React.js have vibrantand active communities. This provides developers with abundantresources, extensive documentation, reusable code packages, bugfixes, and support.
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Ah? From what I see, there's an increase in the amount of code beingwritten. It appears to be in complete opposition to what was mentionedearlier” — Are you thinking the same?If we look at it solely from this perspective, one would certainly feel thatthe original language and framework require less code.However, it's important to consider the bigger picture. And that's whattruly matters, doesn't it? In reality, we don't just build "Hello World"projects. We undertake more substantial projects that demand theutilization of various frameworks and tools to achieve the desiredfunctionality and scalability.
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To provide a brief glimpse of the evolution in JavaScript codingpractices, here is a well-known code snippet implemented in variousframeworks, starting from the core JavaScript language itself — TheHello World:
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Vercel , the team behind NextJs, embarked on a unique approach todevelop a framework encompassing client-side (frontend) and serverside (backend) functionalities within a single application. Guillermo Rauch, the original creator of Next.js and the mastermind behindSocket.IO, began working on this idea in 2016.Over the course of a year, they continuously added new features suchas file-based routing, automatic code splitting, hybrid rendering,internationalization, image and font optimization, and many more.The relentless dedication of the Vercel developers, coupled with theirability to transform diverse ideas into reality, has caught the attentionof Meta (previously known as Facebook) — the creators of React.js. Metanow explicitly recommends that developers use Next.js as their primarytool instead of relying solely on React.js. It's an extraordinaryachievement!And that’s how we developers now need to shift our focus to the latestand greatest version, Next.js 15, to build highly capable and productionready applications. This exciting evolution opens up new possibilitiesand opportunities for creating advanced web applications
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