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Getting Started with Next.js 14: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

Getting Started with Next.js 14: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

Murat Hüdavendigâr Öncü
4 min
#nextjs#react#web development#javascript

Discover why Next.js is the leading framework for React developers. This guide covers the basics of the App Router, Server Components, and how to set up your first project.

Why Next.js?

In the world of web development, React has been the king of UI libraries for years. However, React is a library, not a framework. This is where Next.js comes in. It provides the structure, features, and optimizations needed to build production-ready applications straight out of the box.

Key Features of Next.js 14

  1. Server Components: Render components on the server by default for better performance.
  2. App Router: A new, intuitive file-system-based routing mechanism.
  3. Image Optimization: Automatic resizing and formatting of images.
  4. SEO Friendly: Built-in Server-Side Rendering (SSR) makes your site visible to search engines.

Setting Up Your First Project

Getting started is incredibly easy. Open your terminal and run the following command:

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

You will be asked a series of questions. For a modern setup, I recommend selecting Yes for TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and the App Router.

Understanding the Folder Structure

Once installed, your project structure will look something like this:

  • app/: This is where your pages and layouts live.
  • public/: Static assets like images.
  • next.config.js: Configuration file for Next.js.

In the App Router, every folder inside app represents a route. For example, creating a folder named about with a page.tsx file inside it automatically creates the /about route.

Creating Your First Page

Let's edit the app/page.tsx file to create a simple landing page:

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main className="flex min-h-screen flex-col items-center justify-between p-24">
      <h1 className="text-4xl font-bold">Hello, Next.js!</h1>
      <p className="text-xl mt-4">
        Welcome to the future of web development.
      </p>
    </main>
  );
}

Run npm run dev, open your browser to localhost:3000, and you will see your new page!

Conclusion

Next.js 14 simplifies the complex parts of React, allowing you to focus on building great user experiences. This was just a quick look at the basics, but the possibilities are endless.

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