Next.jsReactHeadless CMSComposable ArchitectureFrontend FrameworkStatic Site GenerationServer-Side RenderingIncremental Static RegenerationAPI-Driven Frontend

Nextjs

React framework for building headless, API-driven web applications with hybrid rendering.

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Overview

Next.js is a React-based frontend framework used in headless architectures to render content fetched from Headless CMS platforms via APIs. It supports static, server-side, and hybrid rendering models, making it suitable for composable, content-driven web applications.

Rendering Modes

SSRSSGISRCSR

Best For

Enterprise apps, E-commerce, Marketing sites

License

MIT

Quick Start

npx create-next-app@latest

Start development server: npm run dev (or pnpm/yarn/bun equivalent) Open in browser: http://localhost:3000 Manual setup option: install next, react, react-dom and add dev/build/start scripts if not using the CLI

Key Features

Server-Side Rendering

Pre-render pages on the server for better SEO and performance

Static Site Generation

Generate static HTML at build time

API Routes

Build API endpoints as part of your Next.js app

Image Optimization

Automatic image optimization with next/image

App Router

New file-system based router with React Server Components

Middleware

Run code before a request is completed

Pros & Cons

Pros

Excellent developer experience
Great performance out of the box
Strong ecosystem and community
Vercel deployment integration

Cons

Can be complex for simple projects
Vendor lock-in concerns with Vercel
Learning curve for App Router

Common Use Cases

Full-stack Web ApplicationsServer-Side Rendered Websites (SSR)Static Websites / Static Generation (SSG)Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR)APIs, Webhooks, and Backend-for-FrontendHigh-performance Product Sites (Ecommerce / SaaS / Dashboards)

Compatible CMS

Crystallize

Headless PIM and commerce

Flotiq

API-first headless CMS with OpenAPI, GraphQL, and starters.

React Bricks

CMS with inline visual editing for React

ButterCMS

API-first CMS for any tech stack

Caisy

Developer-friendly headless CMS

Cosmic

Headless CMS for any website or app

Kontent.ai

Enterprise headless CMS with AI-powered content governance at scale

Agility CMS

Enterprise headless CMS with page management and blazing-fast CDN delivery

Contentstack

Enterprise API-first headless CMS for omnichannel digital experiences at scale

Alinea

Open source headless CMS with minimal setup

Compatible Cloud Servers

AWS Amplify

Build full-stack web and mobile apps

Vercel

The platform for frontend developers

Google Cloud Run

Fully managed serverless containers

Netlify

The platform developers love

DigitalOcean App Platform Pro

For production applications

Find Nextjs Experts

Looking for professional help with your Nextjs project? Here are top certified agencies and developers.

Top Agencies

Alpina Tech

#1 Recommended

Craft custom, responsive websites using expert code and stunning design. Build your site with a flexible CMS and premium hosting to boost your digital presence.

Tentwenty Digital Agency

Tentwenty Digital Agency specializes in addressing complex client challenges through a combination of cutting-edge UI/UX design and seamless technical integration.

Successive Digital

#1 Recommended

Successive Digital is a modern technology consulting partner built for enterprises that want to scale with confidence.

QBurst

QBurst is a digital engineering company that crafts delightful client experiences through AI-driven software engineering and data solutions.

10x Media

10x Media is a boutique web development agency located in Bavaria (Germany) with additional hubs in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Santiago (Chile). We’re a core team of 8 people, and we don’t just code: we combine strategy, design, development, and project management, covering everything needed to bring high-impact digital solutions to life.