Before initiating the web development, every developer needs to find out the best framework that fairly fits the requirement. React.js and Next.js are the two highly popular front-end frameworks among developers.

React provides a library to develop beautiful front-end architecture while Next.js tends to simplify the application development process. Out of the two best frameworks with likely features, it may be difficult for you to decide which framework to use for the project.

In this article, we are going to cover the overview, features, performance and the related concepts of Next.js vs React that make you understand which framework will be better for your front-end web development. One of the primary reasons that frame the Next.js vs React battle is the thin line difference between React library and Next.js framework. Let us move further to understand what exactly the term library and framework meant for.

Overview: Library Vs Framework

The fundamental statement of React defines it as a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. On the other hand, Next.js is the React framework that features the need for production. 

The often-used term “Library” and “Framework” are nothing but the codes written by someone else to provide solutions to common problems.

Let’s say, you are planning to establish a restaurant. You already have a place, but you need a bit of help with furniture. Now, you won’t be able to make your own table from scratch, right? So you will directly visit the place that offers furniture and choose different things that are required in your project.This is exactly what a library does. It gives you complete control by offering suitable tools to pick and choose what your project requires.

On the other hand, the framework is like settling a model restaurant. You have a set of blueprints and structure of a few choices consisting of architecture and designs. Overall, the contractor and blueprint control the procedure and will simply let you know when and where you can put your resources.  

A framework consists of the supporting programs, code libraries, toolsets, compilers, and APIs (application programming interfaces). Similarly, a library consists of the set of configuration data to help the pre-written codes, documentations, message templates, classes, or value specifications to use multiple programs in a quite handy way.

Comparison between Next.js Vs React

What is React?

React is an open-source JavaScript library maintained by Meta (formerly Facebook). This framework is a free front-end library specifically used for building components based on the user interface (UI). Initially created by Jordan Walke, React tends to develop the base of a single-page application that can easily handle the view layer of web and mobile applications.

However, React also focuses on statement management and rendering such statements towards the DOM (Document Object Model). React is highly concerned with the speed, scalability, and simplicity of the applications. As a result, it sometimes requires the additional use of libraries for routing or performing the client-side functionalities. Furthermore, 10394 well-known companies that include Uber, Airbnb, and Facebook have reportedly used React in their tech stacks.

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a framework that holds React on its base. This makes Next.js more beneficial in numerous ways for both the parties; the client-side and the development team. With this framework, you can develop applications on different platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux. Thus, with the basic knowledge and experience in CSS, HTML, and React, one can easily adapt the knowledge of Next.js.

Next.js is a highly popular tool focused to create web applications and perform server-side rendering. It was initially developed by Zeit. By today, it has secured its popularity for the speed and performance of the frameworks among the developers in the whole world. Around 825 companies that include medium.com, CircleCI, and Shelf are reportedly using Next.js in their tech stacks.

Difference between Next.js vs React:

	React	Next.js
Architecture	React is an open-source JavaScript library that traditionally offers to build web applications rendered in the client’s browser with JavaScript.	​Next.js is completely based on React and also offers universal rendering to reduce the development time and also allows re-rendering the React components in the user’s browser.
Learning Curve	With having basic knowledge of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, you can easily learn and use the React Library	To understand Next.js, it is mandatory to have a basic knowledge of React.
Core Benefit	React offers extensive code reusability to make iOS, Android, and web applications without indulging much time and effort.	Next.js offers an automatic code-splitting feature to avoid unnecessary code loading on the page.
Modification	Here, the components cannot modify their properties on their own but can pass a call-back function through which you can do the modifications within the routes of components.	Here, you will need the support of the Node.js server to modify the dynamic Next.js routes.
Dependency	React does not need to work with Next.js	Next.js needs React to proceed with the work on applications.

Next.js Vs React : Coding Projection

To develop pages for your React project, first you must create components and add them to the router. 

Similarly, if you are planning to create pages for your Next.js project, simply add the pages to the folder and insert the mandatory header component links. Both the process will make your development easier with minimal codes.

Next.js Vs React: Performance

React is the 2nd most popular framework around the world and Next.js is built on the top of React. React provides extensive support to client-side rendering but, sometimes, if you are building a high performance application, it may not be appropriate. 

On the other hand, Next.js works incredibly faster with static sites and server-side rendering that also host the performance optimization features. This makes the performance insight of Next.js much faster than React as well.

Next.js Vs React: Benefits

React:

• React is simple to learn as it uses a special syntax called JSX that allows React.js Development companies to combine HTML with JavaScript.
• With React, it is easy to debug self-contained components of large applications.
• React uses one-way data binding and architecture called Flux to control the flow of data to components through a single control point.
• React applications offer effortless testing through React views that manage the output and triggered actions, functionalities, events etc.

Next.js:

• Next.js allows the hybridized pages to load statically from the server-side as well as client-side easily.
• This framework provides an adjustable feature to adjust the size of websites and applications to the size of the screen of the device.
• Here, user data is stored on the server to protect and secure the sensitive information. 
• You can easily access the sites of Next.js applications on any other device like Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, or Linux.
• Next.js supports TypeScript automatically to improve the productivity of the programmer.

Which Framework is better for your Front-end?

The comparison of the two frameworks is done just to visualize the developer’s experience in terms of knowledge and performance. Every framework has its own pros and cons. Either you can have a good framework or you may make a better choice. Next.js is the best for developers who are looking for fast and simple production. While React can be a good choice for the developers who are working for the front-end aspects of the webs and mobile application.