Getting Started with Next.js 15: A Comprehensive Guide

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Getting Started with Next.js 15

Next.js 15 brings significant improvements to the React framework ecosystem. In this guide, we'll explore the key features and best practices for building modern web applications.

What's New in Next.js 15?

Next.js 15 introduces several exciting features:

  • App Router: A new paradigm for building applications with React Server Components
  • Improved Performance: Faster builds and optimized runtime
  • Enhanced Developer Experience: Better error messages and debugging tools

Setting Up Your Project

To get started with Next.js 15, create a new project:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm run dev

Server Components vs Client Components

One of the most significant changes is the distinction between Server and Client Components:

Server Components (Default)

Server Components run on the server and send rendered HTML to the client. They're great for:

  • Fetching data
  • Accessing backend resources
  • Reducing bundle size

Client Components

Client Components run in the browser and are needed for:

  • Interactive elements
  • Browser APIs
  • Event handlers

Building Your First Page

Here's a simple example of a Next.js page:

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>Welcome to Next.js 15</h1>
      <p>Start building amazing applications!</p>
    </main>
  );
}

Conclusion

Next.js 15 offers powerful tools for building modern web applications. The App Router and Server Components provide excellent performance while maintaining great developer experience.

Start exploring these features in your next project and see the difference they make!