Next.js vs React: Which One to Choose for Your App?
Tags: react, nextjs, webdev, javascript
Published: 2022-08-16 08:36:28


The burning question today is What’s better:  [React](https://flatlogic.com/blog/crud-app/)  or Next.[js](https://flatlogic.com/blog/8-reasons-to-use-javascript-libraries-in-project-management-apps/)? Let’s have a look closely at both, compare them and see the difference between  [library](https://flatlogic.com/blog/best-libraries-for-react-i18n/)  and framework. In the React world, Next.js is one of the most popular  [frameworks](https://flatlogic.com/blog/top-10-bootstrap-alternatives-for-2020/)  for “hitting the ground running.”

## What is Next.js?

[Next.js](https://nextjs.org/)  is an open-source  [JavaScript](https://flatlogic.com/blog/7-trends-in-javascript-to-look-for-in-2020/)  framework for developing fast, lightweight, and easy-to-use  [web](https://flatlogic.com/blog/top-angular-open-source-projects/)  applications and static websites (one-pages)  [using React](https://flatlogic.com/blog/using-react-with-express/). Next.js was created by Vercel in 2016. Next.js requires  [Node.js](https://flatlogic.com/blog/top-javascript-calendar-plugins/)  and can be initialized using  [npm](https://flatlogic.com/blog/what-is-npm/). There are a lot of reasons why Next.js has such a strong reputation in the world of application development. They are known for being reliable as they offer image optimization, internationalization, zero-config, Next.js analytics, hybrid: SSR and SGG, fast refresh, API routes,  [TypeScript](https://flatlogic.com/blog/typescript-vs-javascript-the-key-differences-you-should-know-in-2020/) support, file-system routing, code-splitting and bundling, incremental static regeneration, and built-in  [CSS](https://flatlogic.com/blog/what-is-material-ui/)  support, etc.

Next.js includes all the features needed to build an application. Moreover, the documentation is excellent and it is becoming very popular among developers for frontend development.Here are the most popular platforms and apps of Next.js: Twitch.tv, TikTok, Hulu, Binance, and many others that involve a massive number of users engaging with complex data influxes.

## What is React?

React is an efficient, declarative and flexible JavaScript library for building interactive  [UI](https://flatlogic.com/blog/react-admin-templates/), inspired by xHP, the HTML component library for  [PHP](https://flatlogic.com/blog/what-is-laravel/). React was created by Facebook in 2011 and then open-sourced in 2013.React is used to create dynamic, mobile apps, one-pages, visualization tools, and dashboards. Here are some of the most popular platforms and apps created with React: Facebook, Netflix, Atlassian, Airbnb, Dropbox, Reddit, etc.

## Next.js vs React

Even in a sea of  [JavaScript frameworks](https://flatlogic.com/blog/react-vs-vue-what-to-choose-in-2022/)  and libraries, React and NextJS stand out. React is the most popular JavaScript library for frontend developers. NextJS, although smaller than React, has grown continuously over the years and is well on its way to becoming the most-used  [JavaScript framework](https://flatlogic.com/blog/what-is-angular/). So, let’s compare React and Next.js. React – is a JavaScript library for building UI. Next.js – is the  [React framework](https://flatlogic.com/blog/vue-vs-react-what-is-easier-what-is-trending-detailed-guide-with-all-2021/). NextJS is used on top of React, extending its features and optimizing the development process: React doesn’t even have to work with NextJS, but NextJS uses React to deploy applications.

React has a special framework – Create React  [App](https://flatlogic.com/blog/difference-between-react-and-angular-a-comparison-guide-for-2021/), an application used to create  [React projects](https://flatlogic.com/blog/best-react-open-source-projects/)  and includes tools such as Babel, Webpack, and ESlint. Next.js is a React-based framework that allows you to build applications with server-side rendering. React is still the core of the application, but the structure and navigation mechanisms (architecture) – are defined by Next.js. The difference between a framework and a library is that a framework has more features and focuses on several aspects of development, and gives you rules and guidelines for writing code and structuring files.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mnfrtpntndzhfc6b8wh9.png)

## [Which one is better?](https://flatlogic.com/templates/?utm_source=flblog&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=internal-traffic-from-blog)

It’s hard to say that one is better than the other. Remember, React.js is a JS library – a set of tools you can use to build UI – and Next.js is a framework – the blueprints and rules you need to build an entire app – based on React so it’s not a pick this one instead of the other situation.

Use React when:

-   You need a highly dynamic routing
-   You’re already familiar with JSX
-   You need offline support

Use Next.js when:

-   You need an all-inclusive framework
-   You require backend API endpoints
-   You need server-side rendering

## [What do React vs Next.js projects look like](https://flatlogic.com/templates/?utm_source=flblog&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=internal-traffic-from-blog)

## [React](https://flatlogic.com/templates/?utm_source=flblog&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=internal-traffic-from-blog)

You can get started with React by installing [Node](https://flatlogic.com/blog/top-10-javascript-frameworks-to-use-in-2022/).js on your machine and running  `npx create-react-app react-app`. This will create a basic project structure with the  `src/App.js`  file as the entry point for the application. You’ll also have a  `public`  folder where you can store assets, and the initial scaffold looks like this:

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/f38tztukrsyduvyf0tmq.png) 

### Next.js

With Next.js, you can get started by running  `npx create-next-app next-app`. This will scaffold out a project that already has a  `pages`folder for the pages or routes and a  `public`  directory that hosts your assets. The initial scaffold looks like this:

![next.js vs react](https://833250.smushcdn.com/1694534/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-1-1.png?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)

The files in the  `pages`  directory relate to routes in your application. The  `public`  directory stores your static files or images that you want to serve and can be directly accessed – no need to use require or other React traditional methods to import images into components.

## Building Next.js and React projects with Flatlogic

The  [Flatlogic platform](https://flatlogic.com/blog/flatlogic-platform-updates-november-2021/)  is a great way to bridge the gap between developing your applications. Applications usually use the same elements and components, when using the same technologies. The main thing that distinguishes them on a technical level is the  [database schema](https://flatlogic.com/blog/ready-made-web-app-scheme-integration-flatlogic-platform-update/), which implements different data processing and storage mechanisms. The  [Flatlogic](https://flatlogic.com/blog/stand-with-ukraine/)  Platform allows you to create applications by combining parts and creating only those that need to be unique. Here you can see how to use the Flatlogic Platform to create Next.js, React applications, and other options for creating  [CRUD](https://flatlogic.com/blog/react-pagination-guide-and-best-react-pagination-libraries/)  applications on the React. To generate your Next.js or React application, tap here and let’s go.

### Step 1

Name your project and choose the tech stack: React as frontend and No-backend as backend.

![](https://833250.smushcdn.com/1694534/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-2-1022x1024.png?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)

### **Step 2**

Choose the Starter Kit. Here you need to decide which starter kit is best for your project: Next.js or Create React App.

![flatlogic platform](https://833250.smushcdn.com/1694534/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-3-1024x614.png?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)

Next, you need to connect your GitHub repository and check the stack and starter kit and Finish the creation process.

![next js apps](https://833250.smushcdn.com/1694534/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-4.png?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)

Then you will be redirected to the project settings where you will need to deploy your application.

## Conclusion

React and Next.js are new and useful tools for your project, but only for certain tasks. When you choose Next.js, it offers the best solutions for server-side rendering and static website development. It also makes it easy to manage projects with a variety of tools and features.

On the other hand, React is the best choice for developing UIs for one-page applications. Being mobile and web-enabled, it works with a layer of mobile and web applications to create more appealing and intuitive ones. In a nutshell, Next.js offers various tools and features to minimize the development process while React has better resources for the frontend development of your mobile and web applications.