Introduction Next.js has emerged as one of the most popular frameworks for building modern, scalable, and performance-focused web applications. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your journey, Next.js provides a seamless experience with its features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), API routes, and more. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to get started with Next.js and create your first application.

What is Next.js? Next.js is a React framework that enhances React applications with powerful features like SSR and SSG. It allows developers to build fast, user-friendly websites and applications with minimal configuration. Created by Vercel, it integrates effortlessly with modern development tools and best practices.

Why Choose Next.js? Here are some reasons developers love Next.js:

Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Improves SEO and performance by rendering pages on the server. Static Site Generation (SSG): Generates static HTML pages at build time. API Routes: Create back-end APIs without setting up a separate server. Automatic Code Splitting: Optimizes page performance by loading only the required code. Image Optimization: Built-in image optimization with the next/image component. Fast Refresh: Instant feedback while developing with React. Prerequisites Before starting, ensure you have the following installed:

Node.js (Version 14 or later) npm or yarn package manager You should also have a basic understanding of JavaScript and React. Setting Up a Next.js Project

1. **Create a New Project: Run the following command in your terminal:

npx create-next-app@latest my-nextjs-app

Replace my-nextjs-app with your desired project name. 2. Navigate to the Project Directory:

cd my-nextjs-app

3. Start the Development Server:

npm run dev

This will start your app at http://localhost:3000.

Folder Structure Next.js projects come with a predefined structure:

• /pages: Contains all your pages. Files here map directly to routes.
• /public: Stores static assets like images and fonts.
• /styles: Contains CSS files for styling.
• /api: Used for creating API endpoints.

Creating Your First Page

1. Navigate to the /pages directory.
2. Create a new file, e.g., about.js.
3. Add the following code:

export default function About() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>About Us</h1>
      <p>Welcome to our Next.js application!</p>
    </div>
  );
}

4. Access your new page at http://localhost:3000/about. Adding Global Styles
5. Open styles/globals.css.
6. Add the following CSS:

body {
  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

3. Your styles will now apply to the entire application. Deploying Your Application Next.js makes deployment simple. The framework integrates natively with Vercel:
4. Push your code to a GitHub repository.
5. Connect the repository to Vercel at vercel.com.
6. Deploy with a single click, and your app will be live on the web.

Conclusion Next.js is a powerful framework that simplifies web development while offering advanced features out of the box. By following this guide, you’ve taken your first steps toward mastering Next.js. Explore its documentation further to unlock its full potential.

Happy coding! 🚀