STSS↗︎-72.2986%
MIST↗︎-60.8889%
WOLF↗︎-52.0446%
LGMK↗︎-50.1961%
XTIA↗︎-50.0%
ICON↗︎-48.0%
LKCO↗︎-46.3576%
DRCT↗︎-45.1278%
SBEV↗︎-45.0%
CCGWW↗︎-42.9769%
MSSAR↗︎-41.9795%
COOTW↗︎-40.8571%
COEPW↗︎-39.3939%
RCT↗︎-38.2051%
CYCUW↗︎-37.5%
AGMH↗︎-36.6091%
MOBBW↗︎-33.8636%
ECX↗︎-33.6283%
TDTH↗︎-33.5412%
FGIWW↗︎-33.3778%
STSS↘︎-72.2986%
MIST↘︎-60.8889%
WOLF↘︎-52.0446%
LGMK↘︎-50.1961%
XTIA↘︎-50.0%
ICON↘︎-48.0%
LKCO↘︎-46.3576%
DRCT↘︎-45.1278%
SBEV↘︎-45.0%
CCGWW↘︎-42.9769%
MSSAR↘︎-41.9795%
COOTW↘︎-40.8571%
COEPW↘︎-39.3939%
RCT↘︎-38.2051%
CYCUW↘︎-37.5%
AGMH↘︎-36.6091%
MOBBW↘︎-33.8636%
ECX↘︎-33.6283%
TDTH↘︎-33.5412%
FGIWW↘︎-33.3778%

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How to Build a Website with Next.js: A Simple Guide

How to Build a Website with Next.js: A Simple Guide

This article provides a straightforward, step-by-step guide on building a website using Next.js, a popular React framework. It covers everything from setting up your development environment to deploying your site. You'll learn about creating pages, managing static and dynamic content, and incorporating features like routing and API functions. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience with web development, this guide will help you get started with Next.js and build a modern, efficient website.

Published: March 31, 2025 at 12:10 PM UTC

Getting Started with Next.js
Next.js is a popular framework built on top of React that allows developers to create fast and optimized web applications. This guide will take you through the entire process from setting up your environment to deploying your website. Whether you're new to web development or looking to enhance your skills, you'll find this step-by-step guide useful for building a modern website.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Development Environment
Before you can start building your Next.js website, you need to set up your development environment. This includes installing Node.js, which is required to run Next.js. Once Node.js is installed, you can create a new Next.js project using Create Next App, which sets everything up for you. This will create a new directory with the necessary files to get started.
```
npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
```
Step 2: Navigating the Project Structure
After creating your new Next.js project, it's essential to understand its structure. The main folders you will interact with are 'pages' and 'public'. The 'pages' directory is where you will create your application's views, and Next.js will automatically handle routing for you based on the files you add here. The 'public' directory is where you can place static assets like images and fonts.
Step 3: Creating Pages
Creating pages in Next.js is straightforward. You simply create a new JavaScript file in the 'pages' directory, and it becomes a new route in your application. For example, creating 'about.js' inside the 'pages' directory will make your About page accessible at '/about'. Next.js uses a file-based routing system, making it intuitive to navigate between pages.
```
// pages/about.js

export default function About() {
  return <h1>About Us</h1>;
}
```
Step 4: Dynamic Routing and API Functions
Next.js allows for dynamic routes, meaning you can create pages that change based on URL parameters. This is essential for applications that display content based on user input, like blog posts or product pages. Additionally, Next.js provides API routes, which allow you to create serverless functions right in your project, making it easy to handle backend operations.
```
// pages/posts/[id].js

export default function Post({ params }) {
  return <h1>Post: {params.id}</h1>;
}

// pages/api/hello.js

export default function handler(req, res) {
  res.status(200).json({ message: 'Hello World' });
}
```
Step 5: Styling Your Application
Next.js supports various styling methods, including CSS modules, styled-jsx, and CSS-in-JS libraries like styled-components. You can choose the method that best fits your project's needs. With CSS modules, you can scope your styles locally to a component to avoid conflicts, providing a cleaner and more maintainable CSS structure.
Step 6: Deployment
Once your website is ready, it's time to deploy it. Vercel, the creators of Next.js, provide a cloud platform that is perfectly suited for deploying Next.js applications. You can deploy your site with a few simple commands, or you can connect your GitHub repository for automatic deployments on every push. This makes it easy to share your work with others and make it accessible to the public.
```
vercel deploy
```