Getting Started with Next.js: A Complete Guide

# Getting Started with Next.js Next.js is a powerful React framework that makes building web applications easier and more efficient. In this guide, we'll explore the key features and benefits of using Next.js. ## Why Next.js? - **Server-Side Rendering**: Improve SEO and initial page load times - **File-based Routing**: Automatic routing based on your file structure - **API Routes**: Build your API endpoints within your Next.js app - **Image Optimization**: Automatic image optimization out of the box ## Getting Started To create a new Next.js project, run: ```bash npx create-next-app@latest my-app cd my-app npm run dev ``` Your app will be running at http://localhost:3000 ## Key Concepts ### Pages and Routing Next.js uses file-based routing. Create a file in the `pages` directory, and it automatically becomes a route. ### Data Fetching Next.js provides several methods for fetching data: - `getStaticProps` - Fetch data at build time - `getServerSideProps` - Fetch data on each request - `getStaticPaths` - Generate dynamic routes ## Conclusion Next.js simplifies React development with powerful features that help you build production-ready applications faster.