L01 - Introduction to Next.js

Next.js is a React framework for building full-stack web applications.

• It extends React by providing additional features for production-ready apps, such as routing, optimized rendering, data fetching, bundling, and compiling.

• It simplifies web development by offering features like:

  1. Routing (File-based routing)
  2. API Routes (making it full-stack)
  3. Rendering Flexibility (server-side and client-side)
  4. Streamlined Data Fetching
  5. Flexible Styling
  6. Built-In Optimizations (images, fonts, scripts)
  7. Optimized Dev and Build Systems

• Next.js favors Conventions over Configuration, meaning you often don't need to install or configure external packages for core features.

• Prerequisites: HTML, CSS, modern JavaScript, and a good understanding of React fundamentals (function components, props, state, JSX, hooks).