Next.js 14: Everything You Need to Know About

Next.js 14 is the latest version of Vercel’s React-based framework for web development. It offers an experimental preview of partial prerendering, a compiler optimization for dynamic content that generates a fast initial static response . It also includes included performance, stability for Server Actions, a new course teaching the App Router, and more.

Next.js 13, on the other hand, introduced several new features and improvements such as layouts, React Server Components, streaming in the app directory, Turbopack, an improved image component, and the brand new font component .

What’s New in Next.js 14?

Partial Prerendering

Partial prerendering is an experimental feature in Next js 14 that optimizes dynamic content by generating a fast initial static response. This feature is designed to improve the user experience by reducing the time it takes to load dynamic content.

Performance Improvements

Next.js 14 includes several performance improvements, including faster local server startup, faster HMR (Fast Refresh), and 40% less memory usage. These improvements make it easier to develop and test applications locally.

Next.js 13 also introduced several performance improvements such as automatic image format detection and optimized loading tailored to various screen sizes and devices .

Stability for Server Actions

Server Actions are a new feature in Next.js 14 that allows developers to perform actions on the server securely. This feature is designed to improve the developer experience by making it easier to build secure applications.

New Course Teaching the App Router

Next.js 14 includes a new course teaching the App Router, which is a file-system based router built on top of Server Components that supports layouts, nested routing, loading states, error handling, and more . This course is designed to help developers learn how to use the App Router effectively.

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Next.js 13 introduced layouts in the app directory that make it easy to lay out complex interfaces that maintain state across navigations, avoid expensive re-renders, and enable advanced routing patterns. Further, you can nest layouts and colocate application code with your routes like components, tests, and styles.

Comparison between Next.js 14 and Next.js 13

Feature	Next.js 14	Next.js 13
Partial Prerendering	Yes	No
Performance Improvements	Yes	Yes
Stability for Server Actions	Yes	No
New Course Teaching the App Router	Yes	No
Turbopack	No	Yes
Improved Image Component	No	Yes
New Font Component	No	Yes

How to Use Next.js 14

To get started with Next.js 14, you’ll need to install it using npm or yarn. Once you’ve installed it, you can start building your application using React Components. Next.js will automatically configure tooling needed for React like bundling and compiling.

Here’s an example of how to create a simple Next.js application:

import React from 'react'
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
import { useRouter } from 'next/router'

function MyApp() {
  const router = useRouter()

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Hello World!</h1>
      <button onClick={() => router.push('/about')}>Go to About Page</button>
    </div>
  )
}

ReactDOM.render(<MyApp />, document.getElementById('root'))

This application creates a simple page with a button that navigates to an About page when clicked.

Conclusion

Next.js 14 is an exciting release that includes several new features and improvements. With partial prerendering, performance improvements, stability for Server Actions, and a new course teaching the App Router, there’s never been a better time to start using Next.js.

I hope this guide has been helpful in getting you started with Next.js 14. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!

Learn more about Next.js 14 on Official Doc: Click here