What is the difference between React and Next.js?

React vs Next.js: How Do They Differ

If you're building web applications, you've probably come across both React and Next.js. While they're often mentioned together, understanding how these two tools work together can help you make better decisions for your project. Rather than being competing options, they're actually complementary tools that work hand in hand.

TL;DR

The main difference between React and Next.js is scope. React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, while Next.js is a React framework that adds routing, server-side rendering, and SEO optimization. In short, React builds the UI, and Next.js React extends it into a full web application for better performance and scalability.

Next.js vs React: Understanding Their Distinct Roles

React is a JavaScript library focused on one thing: building user interfaces. It gives you the building blocks, like components, state management, and the logic to display content on screen. Think of React as the foundation that lets you create interactive, dynamic user interfaces with reusable components.

Next.js doesn't replace React; it enhances it instead. Every Next.js application is fundamentally a React application, just with additional features and structure built around it. While React focuses purely on the UI layer, Next.js takes your React components and adds capabilities for routing, data fetching, and performance optimization. The key difference is in scope: React handles the view layer, while Next.js provides a full framework for building complete web applications.

How Rendering Works with React and Next.js

When you're using React on its own, everything gets rendered right in the user's browser. The server sends a simple HTML file along with a JavaScript bundle, and then React steps in to create the interface. This client-side approach works great for a lot of applications, especially for interactive tools and dashboards where search engine visibility isn't a big deal.

Next.js uses React for rendering, but gives you more options for where that rendering happens. You can render pages on the server before sending them to users, generate static HTML files at build time, or continue with client-side rendering when that makes sense.

The key takeaway is that you're still writing React components; Next.js just gives you more control over when and where those components render. For pages that don’t change frequently, like a blog post or product page, you can generate them once at build time. For pages that require fresh data on every visit, server-side rendering ensures users always see the latest content.

Routing: React's Flexibility Meets Next.js Structure

React itself doesn't include routing, which gives you complete flexibility to structure your application however you want. Many developers add React Router or other routing libraries to handle navigation between different pages. This approach works well when you need custom routing logic or are integrating React into an existing application.

On the other hand, Next.js provides file-based routing that sits on top of React, and where the file structure automatically creates routes. Create a component file in your pages folder, and that becomes a route in your application. For instance, you want a page at /about? Then, just create a React component called about.js. That being said, it doesn't prevent you from using React Router if you need it, but Next.js will provide a routing layer that handles common cases automatically, allowing you to focus on building React components.

Performance: Building on React's Foundation

If you want your React application to run efficiently, you have to focus on optimization. Implementing code splitting is key so that users don’t have to download the entire app all at once. Lazy loading for images and components that aren’t immediately visible can really help keep those initial load times fast. These practices are beneficial whether you’re using React by itself or with Next.js.

When you work with NextJS React, you still have access to all of React's optimization techniques, but you also get additional optimizations built into the framework. Next.js automatically splits your code by route, which means users only download what they need for the current page. Images get optimized and served in modern formats. Fonts are optimized to prevent layout shifts. You can still use React's performance tools like React.memo and useMemo; Next.js just adds another layer of optimization on top.

SEO: Extending React's Capabilities

React applications that render entirely in the browser can face SEO challenges. Search engine crawlers might not execute JavaScript or might not wait long enough for your content to load. For applications that don't need search engine visibility, like tools that live behind authentication, this isn't a problem at all.

However, for sites that feature a lot of content, like blogs, documentation, or e-commerce stores, search engine visibility is important. This is where Next.js’ server-side rendering and static generation play a big role. It ensures that pages are fully rendered before they reach the browser so that search engines can easily crawl and index content.

Developer Experience: React with Extras

When you start a React project, you have complete control over your tooling options. You choose the bundler, development server, and all the supporting libraries. This kind of flexibility is really useful if you have specific needs or are working under certain constraints.

In contrast, Next.js bundles React with a complete development environment. By using npx create-next-app, you get a React application that comes with routing, optimization tools, and development servers already set up. You’re still writing React components with hooks, state, and all the React patterns you’re familiar with. The key difference is that Next.js manages the setup and configuration for you, allowing you to start building features right away.

Working with the React Ecosystem

Both approaches work seamlessly with the broader React ecosystem. If you're using React Query Next.js together, you'll find that React Query's state management works exactly the same way it would in any React application. The same goes for other React libraries or any other tool built for React that works in Next.js.

It's important to note that while Next.js enhances React for web applications, Next.js React native is a different consideration entirely. React Native shares React's component model but is built for mobile development and runs separately from web-based React or Next.js applications. When planning projects that span web and mobile, you'll use React's component patterns across both, but the frameworks themselves serve different platforms.

React and Next.js in Practice

Many developers learn React first and then add Next.js when they need its features. This progression makes sense because understanding React gives you the foundation you need to work effectively with Next.js. All the React concepts you learn (components, props, state, effects, context) work exactly the same in Next.js.

The Next.js vs React question isn't really about choosing one over the other. It's about whether you need the additional features that Next.js provides on top of React. If you're building something that benefits from server-side rendering, automatic code splitting, and optimized performance, Next.js gives you those features while still letting you write React code the way you normally would.

Moving Forward with React

Whether you start with React alone or jump straight to Next.js, you're learning the same core technology. React is the library that powers the UI in both cases. Next.js simply adds a framework around React that makes certain types of applications easier to build and maintain.

If you're new to both, learning React first can help you understand the fundamentals before adding the additional concepts that Next.js introduces. If you already know you need the features Next.js provides, starting with Next.js means you're learning React in a structured environment that helps you build production-ready applications from day one.

The React.js vs. Next.js relationship is one of building and extending rather than competing. React gives you the tools to build interfaces, and Next.js gives you a framework to build complete applications with those interfaces. Together, they form a powerful combination for modern web development.

Building Your Next Project

Think about what your project needs. If you're building interactive features that don't require server-side rendering, React gives you a good foundation. If you're building a full application that needs routing, SEO, and optimized performance, Next.js provides those features while keeping you in the React ecosystem you know.

Both tools are backed by strong communities and excellent documentation. React is maintained by Meta and powers some of the world's largest applications. Next.js is developed by Vercel and adds structure on top of React for developers building complete web applications. Whatever you're building, you're working with React at the core.

Learn all about Next.js, React, and more with our comprehensive guide on tools and integrations for modern web development.