Getting Started with Next.js 15

Next.js 15 represents a significant leap forward in React framework capabilities. Whether you're new to Next.js or upgrading from a previous version, this guide will help you understand and leverage the latest features.

What's New in Next.js 15

Next.js 15 brings several groundbreaking features that make building web applications faster, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

Turbopack: Production Ready

The Rust-based bundler Turbopack is now stable and ready for production use. It offers:

Partial Prerendering

This hybrid rendering approach combines static and dynamic content intelligently:

Enhanced App Router

The App Router continues to evolve with:

Getting Started

Installation

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

Project Structure

Next.js 15 encourages a clean, organized project structure:

my-app/
├── app/
│   ├── layout.tsx
│   ├── page.tsx
│   └── globals.css
├── components/
├── lib/
└── public/

Your First Page

Create dynamic pages with the new file-based routing:

// app/page.tsx
export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>Welcome to Next.js 15</h1>
    </main>
  );
}

Server Components

Server Components are the default in Next.js 15:

// This runs on the server
async function getData() {
  const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
  return res.json();
}

export default async function Page() {
  const data = await getData();
  return <div>{data.title}</div>;
}

Client Components

When you need interactivity, use the 'use client' directive:

'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
      Count: {count}
    </button>
  );
}

Best Practices

Conclusion

Next.js 15 makes building modern web applications more intuitive than ever. The combination of performance improvements, developer experience enhancements, and powerful new features positions it as the leading React framework for production applications.