React and Next.js: Untangling the Modern Web Development Ecosystem

If you're starting out in modern web development, specifically with JavaScript, you've probably come across terms like React and Next.js, and you're wondering what the relationship is between them and where. you should start. In this article, we are going to clarify these concepts and establish a clear learning path.

What is React?

React is a JavaScript library developed by Facebook (now Meta) used to build interactive user interfaces (UI). It is the foundation on which many modern web applications are built.

React Basics

1. Components
   • They are reusable building blocks
   • They can be as small as a button or as large as a full page
   • Basic example of a component:

function Welcome({ name }) {
  return <h1>Hola, {name}</h1>;
}

1. Status and Props
   • The state (state) handles data that can change
   • Props are data passed from a parent component to a child
   • Example of using status:

import { useState } from 'react';

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Has hecho clic {count} veces</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
        Incrementar
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

1. Virtual DOM
   • React uses a virtual representation of the DOM to optimize updates
   • Compare the changes and update only what is necessary in the real DOM

Why use React?

• Reusability: Components can be reused in different parts of your application
• Maintainability: The code is easier to maintain and debug
• Large ecosystem: Huge amount of libraries and tools available
• Active community: Easy to find solutions to common problems

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a framework built on React that adds additional functionality to create complete web applications. We could say that Next.js is to React what a complete car is to an engine: React is the (fundamental) engine, and Next.js is the complete vehicle with all its additional features.

Next.js Key Features

1. Hybrid Rendering
   • Server Side Rendering (SSR)
   • Static Generation (SSG)
   • Client Side Rendering (CSR)
   • Example of page with SSR:

// pages/users.js
export async function getServerSideProps() {
  const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/users');
  const users = await res.json();

  return {
    props: { users }
  };
}

export default function Users({ users }) {
  return (
    <ul>
      {users.map(user => (
        <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

1. File-Based Routing System

   • Paths are created automatically based on file structure
   • You don't need to configure a router manually

2. Image Optimization

   • Automatic image optimization
   • Lazy loading
   • Example:

function Welcome({ name }) {
  return <h1>Hola, {name}</h1>;
}

1. Zero Config
   • Babel automatic configuration
   • Built-in support for TypeScript
   • Hot Reloading included

Where to start?

Recommended learning path

1. JavaScript Fundamentals

   • Variables, functions, objects
   • Promises and async/await
   • ES6 features (arrow functions, destructuring, etc.)

2. React Basics

   • Components and JSX
   • Status and props
   • Basic hooks (useState, useEffect)
   • Basic application example:

import { useState } from 'react';

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Has hecho clic {count} veces</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
        Incrementar
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

1. Next.js
   • Initial setup
   • Routing
   • Data fetching
   • Deployment

Recommended practical projects

1. React: Todo List

   • Practice state management
   • Events and forms
   • Reusable components

2. React: Simple blog

   • Routing with React Router
   • Communication between components
   • More complex state management

3. Next.js: Full blog

   • SSR and SSG
   • API Routes
   • Image Optimization
   • SEO

The relationship between React and Next.js should not be intimidating. React is the fundamental library that you need to learn first, as Next.js is built on top of it. The React documentation mentions Next.js to you because it is a very popular tool for building full React applications, but it is not necessary to get started.

Suggested learning order:

1. Master the basics of JavaScript
2. Learn React and build some simple apps
3. When you feel comfortable with React, introduce Next.js to take advantage of its additional features

Remember that learning is a gradual process. Don't feel overwhelmed by all the tools and concepts available. Start with the fundamentals and build on them step by step.

Additional Resources

• Official React Documentation
• Official Next.js Documentation
• JavaScript.info - Excellent resource for JavaScript
• MDN Web Docs - Complete web development documentation

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