Web Dev//framework//Next.js

Full-stack React framework. Frontend AND backend in one project — the whole stack.

Full-stack React framework. Frontend AND backend in one project — the whole stack.

Server-Side Rendering (SSR): pages can render on the server before reaching the browser, better for SEO and initial load

API Routes: backend endpoints defined in the same codebase, deployed as Vercel Functions (serverless)

Created by the Vercel team — deploying Next.js on Vercel is the path of least resistance

Contrast with Vite: Vite is just a bundler/dev server for frontend. Next.js is the entire application — routing, SSR, API, build, deploy. Vite builds the dist/; Next.js IS the app.

Contrast with Astro: Next.js is React-only and ships JS to the browser by default. Astro ships zero JS by default and supports multiple frameworks.