Getting Started with Next.js 15

Next.js 15 brings exciting new features and improvements that make building React applications even more enjoyable. In this post, we'll explore the key features and how to get started.

What's New in Next.js 15

Enhanced App Router

The App Router has been further refined with better performance and developer experience. The new features include:

Improved routing performance
Better error handling
Enhanced middleware capabilities

React 19 Support

Next.js 15 comes with full support for React 19, bringing:

New concurrent features
Improved server components
Better hydration strategies

Setting Up a New Project

Getting started with Next.js 15 is straightforward:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm run dev

This will create a new Next.js application with all the latest features enabled by default.

Key Features to Explore

Server Components

Server Components allow you to render components on the server, reducing the JavaScript bundle size sent to the client.

Streaming

Take advantage of streaming to improve perceived performance by sending parts of your page as they become ready.

Enhanced Image Optimization

The Image component has been improved with better performance and new features for responsive images.

Best Practices

When working with Next.js 15, keep these best practices in mind:

Use Server Components by default - Only use Client Components when you need interactivity
Leverage the App Router - Take advantage of the new routing capabilities
Optimize images - Use the built-in Image component for better performance
Implement proper error boundaries - Handle errors gracefully in your application

Next.js 15 represents a significant step forward in React development. With its improved performance, better developer experience, and new features, it's an excellent choice for building modern web applications.

Start exploring these features in your next project and see how they can improve your development workflow and application performance.