Are they the Same?
The straightforward answer is "NO." React and Next.js are not the same.
React is an open-source JavaScript library for building user interfaces, especially for single-page applications and user interface components.
Next.js, on the other hand, is a React framework for web development. As mentioned on the Next.js official website, it enables you to create full-stack web applications by extending the latest React features and integrating powerful JavaScript tooling for faster builds.
Server and Client Components
To understand the difference between react and next, we must understand what are server and client components.
Client Components
The "client" refers to the user's browser. Client components are those components that are rendered on the client side.
When you visit a website, the server sends HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to your browser. Your browser then executes the code, rendering the web page.
Server Components
The "server" refers to a computer in a data center that stores data, accepts requests from clients, and sends back the appropriate responses. Server components are those components that are rendered on the server side.
The code is executed on the server and pre-renders the content. Then this pre-rendered HTML file is sent to the client.
In Next.js, we can use both the client and the server components. It is very important to know where to use which type of component. Let's understand where to use which one of them.
Where to Use Server Components:
We should use Server components whenever we have to perform any of these actions:
Fetch Data
Access Backend Resources (directly)
Keep sensitive information on the server
Keep large dependencies on the server
Reduce client-side javascript
Where to Use Client Components:
We should use Client components whenever we have to perform any of these actions:
Add interactivity and event listeners
Use state and lifecycle effects
Use browser-only APIs
To optimize your application, it's wise to use client-side and server-side components strategically. You can make components that require user interaction as client components and static components as server components.
Server-Side-Rendering (SSR)
Now, that we understand what are client and server components, let's compare Next and React in their terms.
React Server components are still experimental and the official React documentation also suggests using a framework like Next.js for this purpose. Next supports Server-Side Rendering (SSR) which gives it a major advantage over React.
Server-side Rendering helps in loading the page faster as the code is pre-rendered on the server and the client's browser doesn't have to download all the associated javascript and execute it.
Benefits of using Next over React:
Faster Page Loading
Next.js uses SSR, which means the code is executed on the server and the pre-rendered HTML file is sent to the client. This results in faster page loading because the client's browser only has to handle event listeners and hooks.
Reduced Client-side load
React performs most tasks on the client side, assuming that the user's device can handle it. However, older PCs and phones with lower processing power may struggle. Next.js, on the other hand, executes code on the server, relieving the client's browser from heavy processing.
Better SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Search engines like Google rely on HTML content to understand websites. In client-side rendering, a lot of JavaScript and minimal HTML content is sent to the client, making it challenging for search engines to comprehend. In server-side rendering, a complete HTML file with minimal JavaScript is sent to the client, improving SEO and site ranking.
Moreover, page loading is yet another factor that is considered while ranking sites. Next's SSR capabilities outstand React in this contest as well.
Summary
In summary, React and Next.js are not the same. React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, whereas Next.js is a React framework for web development. The crucial difference lies in server-side rendering (SSR). Next.js leverages SSR, offering faster page loading, reduced client-side processing, and enhanced SEO through complete HTML files for search engines. On the other hand, React primarily operates on the client side.