Next.js is React with the missing pieces built in: routing, server rendering, image optimization, API routes. It has become the default way companies ship React.
What it adds over plain React (Vite)
- File-based routing:
app/about/page.jsxIS the /about route — no react-router setup - Server-side rendering (SSR): HTML arrives pre-rendered → Google indexes it fully + first paint is faster
- API routes: backend endpoints in the same project — full-stack in one repo
- Image/font optimization: automatic resizing, lazy loading, no layout shift
The SEO point (interview-worthy)
Plain React ships an empty <div id="root"> and builds the page in the browser (CSR). Crawlers and slow devices suffer. SSR sends real HTML — better SEO, better perceived speed. Being able to explain CSR vs SSR vs SSG is a strong fresher signal.
Learning order
- React fundamentals with Vite (components, hooks, props/state)
- Then Next.js — it assumes React knowledge
Skipping straight to Next means debugging two layers at once. Foundations: React interview questions.
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