Getting Started with Next.js 14

Next.js 14 brings exciting new features and improvements that make building modern web applications easier than ever. In this article, we'll explore the key concepts and get you started with your first Next.js project.

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a powerful React framework that enables:

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) - Better SEO and performance
Static Site Generation (SSG) - Lightning-fast page loads
API Routes - Built-in backend functionality
File-based Routing - Intuitive project structure

The New App Router

Next.js 14 introduces the App Router, a new way to build applications with:

Server Components by Default

// app/page.tsx
export default function Page() {
  return <h1>Hello, Next.js!</h1>
}

Server Components are the default, providing better performance and smaller bundle sizes.

Layouts

Layouts allow you to share UI across multiple pages:

// app/layout.tsx
export default function RootLayout({ children }) {
  return (
    <html>
      <body>{children}</body>
    </html>
  )
}

Key Features

1. Automatic Code Splitting

Next.js automatically splits your code, loading only what's needed for each page.

2. Image Optimization

The next/image component automatically optimizes images:

import Image from 'next/image'

<Image src="/photo.jpg" width={500} height={300} alt="Photo" />

3. Fast Refresh

Changes appear instantly in the browser without losing component state.

Getting Started

Install Next.js with one command:

npx create-next-app@latest

Then start the development server:

npm run dev

Conclusion

Next.js 14 is an excellent choice for building modern web applications. Its intuitive API, powerful features, and great developer experience make it my go-to framework for React projects.

Happy coding! 🎨