Getting Started with Next.js

By Davide Del GattoMay 15, 2025
Next.jsReactWeb Development

Getting Started with Next.js

Next.js is a React framework that enables you to build full-stack web applications. It's built on top of React and provides additional features like server-side rendering, static site generation, and API routes.

Why Next.js?

Next.js offers several advantages over plain React:

  • Zero Configuration: Start building immediately without complex setup
  • Hybrid Rendering: Choose between SSR, SSG, or client-side rendering per page
  • File-based Routing: Pages are automatically routed based on file structure
  • API Routes: Build API endpoints alongside your frontend
  • Built-in Optimization: Automatic code splitting, image optimization, and more

Installation

Getting started with Next.js is simple:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm run dev

Project Structure

A typical Next.js project has this structure:

my-app/
├── app/
│   ├── layout.tsx
│   ├── page.tsx
│   └── globals.css
├── public/
├── next.config.js
└── package.json

Creating Your First Page

In the App Router, create a new page by adding a page.tsx file:

export default function About() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>About Page</h1>
      <p>This is the about page.</p>
    </div>
  );
}

Styling

Next.js supports various styling approaches:

  • CSS Modules: Scoped CSS with .module.css files
  • Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS framework
  • Styled Components: CSS-in-JS library
  • Global CSS: Traditional CSS files

Deployment

Deploy your Next.js app easily with Vercel:

npm install -g vercel
vercel

Next.js makes building modern web applications a breeze with its powerful features and excellent developer experience.