Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
What is Next.js?
3.
What is React?
4.
Comparison between Next.js and React
5.
FAQs
6.
Key Takeaways 
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Next.js Vs. React

Author Juhi Sinha
0 upvote
Career growth poll
Do you think IIT Guwahati certified course can help you in your career?

Introduction

Developer experience is usually considered when selecting a software library or framework. When we speak of developer experience, we refer to how developers complete tasks. Developers prefer libraries or frameworks that are enjoyable and simple to use. This is the primary motivation for comparing various frameworks and libraries.

This article will learn about the differences between Next.js and React. So, without any further ado, let's get started!

What is Next.js?

NextJS is a React framework, which means it's a software development platform that uses the React library. NextJS is a framework that is a software developed and used by developers to create applications.

It comes with several features that make developing React apps effortless. We don't have to start from scratch as programmers because tools are already available to assist us with our projects. Many of the world's largest brands and production-facing websites and web applications use Next.js.

What is React?

React is a JavaScript library for creating user interfaces that are declarative, efficient, and flexible. ReactJS is an open-source, component-based front-end library responsible for the application's view layer. It creates simple views for each state in our app, and when the data changes, React updates and renders the appropriate component quickly. 

Comparison between Next.js and React

Now, let us understand the differences between Next.Js and React in the table below:

                      Next.Js                       React
  • Vercel created the Next.js framework.
  • The React front-end library was created by Facebook.
  • Next.js is open-source based on Node.js and Babel and integrates with React for developing single-page apps. 
  • React is a JavaScript library that helps us to build user interfaces using components as building blocks.

 

  • Next.js is a framework that allows us to use the React library to create web app pages and UI. Next.js employs React not only to create UI components but also to construct entire pages.
  • As a library, React.js is part of a framework, specifically the UI components section.
  • Because of static sites and server-side rendering, Next.js apps are lightning-fast. They're effective right out of the box because of performance-enhancing features like Image Optimization, etc.

 

  • When it comes to React, a few things rule it out of the discussion. It only supports client-side rendering out of the box, which is insufficient to build a high-performance application.

 

  • We add the page to the pages folder and the required header component link to create pages for the Next.js project. This simplifies our lives because we write less code, and the project is simple to understand.
  • We must first create a component and then add it to the router to create a React project page.

 

 

Let us see the image below to clarify Next.Js and React:

 

      


Also Read, Front End Web Development

FAQs

 

  1. What is Next.js?
    NextJS is a React framework, which means it's a software development platform that uses the React library. NextJS is a framework that is software that is developed and used by developers to create applications.
     
  2. Why should we use Next.js?
    NextJS simplifies the development of large React applications by providing several additional features. This framework solves many problems and makes life easier for React developers. 
     
  3. What is React.js?
    React is a JavaScript library that helps us to build user interfaces using components as building blocks.
     
  4. What are the features of Next.js?
    Some of the features of Next.js are as follows:
  • Hot Code Reload: The Next.js server detects modified files and automatically reloads them.
  • Automatic Routing: There's no need to set up URLs for routing. The files should be saved in the pages folder. The file system will be mapped to all URLs. Customization is possible.
  • Component-specific styles: Global and component-specific styles are supported by styled-jsx.
  • Server-side rendering: As React components are pre rendered on the server, they load more quickly on the client.
  • Node Ecosystem: As Next.js is React-based, it fits well with the Node ecosystem.

 

Key Takeaways 

This article has learned about Next.js and React and their differences. 
You can read our previous blogs on NextJS and React. If you are eager to learn advanced front-end web development, Coding Ninjas is here with one of the best courses available, which you can find here

 

Thank you for reading!

 

Live masterclass