The Vercel developed Next.js, is one of the frameworks which has rapidly gained popularity among developers and businesses. While it’s widely known for its capabilities in front-end development, the Next.js also shines as full stack framework. Next.js is a framework which helps to create robust, scalable and performance optimized web applications.

React.js is at Core of Next.js

Next.js is build on top of React.js. While it supports rich features of React.js such as modularity and reusability using Component based development, State management, brings its own capabilities to enhance overall framework. Next.js provides abstraction for features such React.js server rendered component, static site generations resulting in ease of development, improving developer productivity. React eco system provides many tools and libraries, most of the tools and libraries can seamlessly be integrated into Next.js based application.

Why Next.js for full stack development

• Server-side rendering (SSR): One of the prominent features of Next.js is server-side rendering (SSR). Server-side rendering enables to pre-render pages on the server. Server-side rendering enables to write business and data fetch logic on server side resulting faster load time and improved SEO. SSR is especially beneficial for content heavy and e-commerce applications.
• Server-side generation (SSG): Server-side generation (SSG) is supported out of the box by Next.js. SSG results in faster load time and improved SEO.
• Middleware: Middleware allow to execute a code before a request is completed. Middleware opens up a possibilities to handle use cases such as authentication and authorization, path rewrite,  feature flags, logging and analytics.
• Server Actions: Server actions are the asynchronous functions executed on the server side. Server actions allows server side functions to be invoked from client as well as from server side. Server actions provide abstraction for sensitive operations on the server side reducing the risk of exposure of sensitive information.
• Meta Data: Next.js has built in Metadata API that can be leveraged to improve SEO and web sharability.

What Next.js brings for Business

For businesses, choosing the right technology stack is crucial for success. Next.js brings following business values –

• Performance:  Web application performance is crucial factor for user engagement and higher conversion rate resulting business growth. The Server side rendering (SSR) and Server side generation (SSG) ensures fast and performant web application.
• SEO Optimization: Next.js’s server-side rendering, and meta data API feature ensures that search engines can easily crawl and index the web applications. This results in better search engine ranking and visibility.
• Scalability: Next.js architecture supports scalability. The built in routes (file based/API routes) enables to add new features and expand the application as needed. It can be used for all types i.e. small, medium and complex types of application.
• Flexibility: Next.js supports both client side and server side rendering providing flexibility to choose based on specific business requirements.
• Community support: Next.js is backed by a strong community and maintained by Vercel, ensuring continuous updates, improvements, and support.

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Next.js Use case

Though Next.js is getting traction across domains. However, my point of view is E-commerce applications are one of the best candidate for Next.js platform as E-commerce platforms require fast load times, dynamic content, and secure transactions and SEO friendliness which can be achieved using next.js framework provided features.

Conclusion
Next.js is getting a lot of traction for web development. It’s significant business value, Architecture and full stack capability makes it as one of the preferred technology platform choices for both business and development communities.