Getting Started with Next.js 15

Next.js 15 brings powerful new features that make building modern web applications easier than ever. In this post, we'll explore the key features and why you should consider Next.js for your next project.

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a React framework that provides a comprehensive solution for building web applications. It handles routing, rendering, data fetching, and much more out of the box.

Key Features

1. App Router - Modern file-based routing system
2. React Server Components - Better performance and SEO
3. TypeScript Support - First-class TypeScript integration
4. Built-in Optimization - Automatic image and font optimization

Why Choose Next.js?

Next.js offers several advantages over plain React:

• Zero Configuration - Works out of the box with sensible defaults
• Automatic Code Splitting - Only load what you need
• Server-Side Rendering - Better SEO and initial load times
• Static Site Generation - Build fast, static pages when possible

Quick Example

Here's a simple Next.js page component:

// app/page.tsx
export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>Welcome to Next.js!</h1>
      <p>Building modern web apps has never been easier.</p>
    </main>
  );
}

This is all you need to create a page. Next.js handles the routing automatically based on the file structure.

Server Components

One of the most powerful features is React Server Components:

// This component runs on the server
async function BlogPost({ slug }: { slug: string }) {
  // Fetch data directly in the component
  const post = await fetch(`/api/posts/${slug}`).then((r) => r.json());

  return (
    <article>
      <h1>{post.title}</h1>
      <p>{post.content}</p>
    </article>
  );
}

No need for getServerSideProps or getStaticProps anymore!

Getting Started

To create a new Next.js project:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 and you're ready to go!

Conclusion

Next.js 15 makes building production-ready web applications straightforward and enjoyable. Whether you're building a blog, e-commerce site, or complex web app, Next.js provides the tools you need.

Try it out and see how it can improve your development workflow!