Next.js vs ReactJS

To build the frontend of an application or website, in simple words the part with which end users interact, there are several frameworks and technologies, but there are two that have managed to stand out over the years: ReactJS and Next.js.

As an optimized Node.js framework, Next.js has everything a developer could need and more. Within this framework, default capabilities include making sure applications are stable and can withstand the test of time and any vulnerabilities that may come their way.

Fast Refresh is a feature of Next.js that gives you instant feedback on edits made to your React components. The fast update is enabled by default in all Next.js applications on version 9.4 or later. With Next.js Fast Refresh enabled, most edits should be visible within a second, without losing the component state.

ReactJS and its quality as a powerful library

“ReactJS is a JavaScript-based UI development library. Facebook and a community of open-source developers run it. Although ReactJS is more of a library than a language, it is widely used in web development. The library first appeared in May 2013 and is now one of the most used frontend libraries for web development. ReactJS offers several extensions to support the architecture of complete applications, such as Flux and React Native, beyond the mere user interface” is how they define this technology in Simplilearn.

ReactJS is an open source library developed by a team at Facebook to create single-page app user interfaces. This library was born due to a performance problem suffered by the social network application, which had been working with a typical system of links between views and data, but due to a large number of connections between both layers, the performance of the application was affected.

Differences between Next.js and ReactJS

To note the differences between each technology, we are going to detail the advantages of each one:

Advantages of Next.js

• Easy to code: Next.js requires less code to create a project compared to ReactJS. The developer only needs to create the page and then bind the component in the header, this means less code, clearer readability, and better project management.
• Speed: All web applications and sites built with Node.js are fast, due to server-side rendering and static generation, providing a smart way to handle data.
• Fast rendering: Every change to the file is immediately visible on page refresh. The component renders on the spot, making it easy to track edits as they happen.
• Better image optimization: Images in an application built with Node.js can be resized and displayed with up-to-date formats, such as WebP. Images can also be configured to fit small or large windows as needed for the project.
• SEO: For a client that needs a project with outstanding SEO, Next.js allows easy creation of titles and headings with the necessary keywords.
• Customization: Babel is one of several implements that make Next.js fully customizable. It is implemented in a simple and intuitive way, adapting to the design, which allows you to launch applications quickly.

Advantages of ReactJS

• ReactJS is well known among software developers for two reasons: one, it is a reliable user interface developed by Facebook, and two, it allows software engineers to build web and mobile applications.
• Build web and mobile apps: ReactJS components can be used to develop mobile apps that will run on Android and iOS mobile systems almost as if they were native apps.
• Allows for stable coding: With ReactJS you can make small changes to the child structure of your app without the changes affecting the parents and the rest of the structure. This allows for stable encoding and continuous performance.
• Allows reuse of old components: ReactJS gives software engineers the freedom to reuse old system components and assets to enhance their web or mobile app, allowing you to display a number of different digital objects.

Knowing the advantages of each one, it is up to the frontend developer to decide which one best suits the needs of the project.

At Rootstack we have expert engineers in both technologies who can help you create your application or improve your website to keep up with modern trends.

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