Is Next.js a Framework or Just React? Key Differences Explained

Next.js is a framework built on top of React, not just React itself. While React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, Next.js provides a set of tools and conventions that make building production-ready web applications with React faster and easier. Next.js adds features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), file-based routing, and built-in API routes, which are not included in plain React.

For example, with React you handle routing manually (often using React Router), and you need to set up your own build tools for SSR or SSG. With Next.js, these features are built in, letting you create fast, SEO-friendly apps with less setup.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Set Up a Simple React App

   • Use create-react-app to generate a basic React project:

     npx create-react-app my-react-app
     cd my-react-app
     npm start
     

   • You get a single-page app (SPA) with client-side routing (using libraries like React Router).

2. Set Up a Next.js App

   • Use create-next-app to start a Next.js project:

     npx create-next-app my-nextjs-app
     cd my-nextjs-app
     npm run dev
     

   • Next.js automatically provides file-based routing. For example, creating pages/about.js instantly adds a /about route.
   • You can use SSR and SSG by exporting functions like getServerSideProps or getStaticProps in your page components.

3. Compare Routing

   • React: You define routes manually using <Route> components in a Router.
   • Next.js: Page files in the pages directory become routes automatically.

4. Compare Data Fetching

   • React: Fetch data in components (often useEffect) on the client side.
   • Next.js: Fetch data at build time (SSG) or request time (SSR) using special functions, improving SEO and performance.

5. API Routes (Next.js Only)

   • Next.js lets you create API endpoints by adding files in the pages/api directory, so you can build backend logic without a separate server.

Example

• React: To add a new route, you modify your router setup and add components.
• Next.js: Just create a new file under pages/.

Before You Start

• Make sure Node.js is installed on your computer.
• Decide if you need SSR/SSG, built-in routing, or API routes—if so, Next.js is a better fit than plain React.
• Back up your existing project if migrating from React to Next.js, as folder structures differ.

Alternatives to This Action

• If you only need a simple SPA without SSR or advanced routing, React alone may be enough.
• Other React frameworks like Gatsby or Remix also add features to React for specific use cases (e.g., static sites, advanced data loading).

FAQs

Q: Can you use React without Next.js?

Yes, React can be used on its own to build single-page applications. Next.js is an optional framework that adds more features to React for building more complex or SEO-friendly sites.

Q: What are the main advantages of using Next.js over React?

Next.js offers server-side rendering, static site generation, built-in routing, and API routes out of the box, making it easier to build fast, SEO-friendly web apps compared to plain React.

Q: Is Next.js harder to learn than React?

If you already know React, learning Next.js is straightforward. Next.js builds on React concepts but adds some new conventions and features to streamline development.

Q: Can you migrate an existing React app to Next.js?

Yes, you can migrate a React app to Next.js. It often involves reorganizing your project structure, especially moving components into the pages directory for routing.