Next.js FAQs (Beginner to Advanced) Part 2

Next.js FAQs (Beginner to Advanced) Part 2

Quick intro

If you care about modern websites that load fast, rank well, and convert visitors into leads, Next.js is worth knowing. This FAQ-style guide answers practical questions for small business owners, founders, and marketers so you can make informed decisions about sites, performance, and hosting.

Getting started: how to start and run a Next.js app

Starting a Next.js project is quick and sensible even if you don’t code every day. From a developer’s terminal you typically:

  • Run npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
  • Change into the folder: cd my-next-app
  • Start the dev server: npm run dev (then open http://localhost:3000)

Those three steps give you a local site to preview and iterate on. If you’d rather outsource setup and optimization, the team at https://prateeksha.com can handle everything and set up a production-ready workflow.

Is Next.js frontend or backend?

Next.js is primarily a React-based frontend framework, but it also offers backend capabilities. With server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and built-in API routes, you can handle common backend tasks like data fetching, authentication, and webhooks right inside the same codebase. That makes it a practical full-stack option for many small teams.

Why businesses pick Next.js

Next.js is popular with companies because it balances developer speed and real-world needs. Key advantages include:

  • Better SEO thanks to server-rendered pages and static generation.
  • Faster perceived performance for users, which improves conversions.
  • Flexible rendering: choose SSR, SSG, or client-side rendering per page.
  • Built-in TypeScript support for safer code.
  • Easy integration with serverless platforms and CDNs to scale efficiently.

If you want case studies, the Prateeksha blog at https://prateeksha.com/blog has examples of business sites built with Next.js.

Short answers to common technical questions

  • Is Next.js a SPA? It can be, but it’s not limited to SPA behavior. You can mix client-side navigation with SSR or SSG for better SEO and speed.
  • Is Next.js React? Yes—Next.js builds on React and adds routing, rendering options, and developer tools.
  • Does Next.js support TypeScript? Absolutely. You can start a TypeScript app out of the box.
  • Does Netflix use Next.js? Not for its main streaming platform, though some marketing pages or subdomains may use Next.js.
  • How old is Next.js? It launched in 2016 and has matured rapidly since.
  • Where does Next.js build to? Production build output is generated in the .next directory in your project root.

Practical site tasks

  • Change favicon: put your favicon file into the public folder and reference it in the HTML head of your layout.
  • Use Redux? Yes—Redux works but requires extra setup to hydrate store state on server-rendered pages.
  • Can you use Vite? Not with Next.js; Next uses Webpack or Turbopack for builds.
  • React Router with Next.js? Not recommended—Next’s file-based routing is the intended approach.

Hosting, deployment, and upgrades

Next.js works with many deployment targets. For static sites you can host on S3 or a CDN; for SSR you can use Vercel, AWS Lambda (serverless), Elastic Beanstalk, or other servers. Steps usually include building the app (npm run build) and deploying the resulting artifacts. Upgrading Next.js is typically a matter of updating the package (npm install next@latest) and checking the migration guide for breaking changes.

If you prefer hands-off hosting, https://prateeksha.com offers managed deployments and performance tuning.

New tools and quality practices

  • Turbopack: a faster bundler being introduced to speed up development builds as a Webpack alternative.
  • ESLint: strongly recommended—Next.js integrates ESLint and it helps keep code reliable.
  • Serverless: Next.js supports serverless functions, especially on platforms like Vercel or AWS Lambda, which can lower hosting costs and simplify scaling.

Quick deployment tips for non-technical founders

  1. Pick a deployment platform (Vercel for simplicity, AWS for control).
  2. Use SSG for marketing pages to maximize speed and SEO.
  3. Add analytics and conversion tracking early.
  4. Use a CDN and enable image optimization to cut load times.
  5. Ask a developer or agency to run accessibility and performance audits before launch.

Conclusion — what to do next

If your goal is a fast, lead-generating website that’s easy to maintain, Next.js is a strong choice. For hands-on help—from project setup to hosting, upgrades, and performance optimization—visit https://prateeksha.com and check our resources at https://prateeksha.com/blog. You can also read this detailed FAQ on our site: https://prateeksha.com/blog/nextjs-faqs-beginner-to-advanced-part-2. Ready to get started? Contact a Next.js expert and turn your site into a business asset.

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