Next js Tutorial for Beginners | Nextjs 13 (App Router) with TypeScript

Introduction

This tutorial is designed for beginners who want to master Next.js 13 and build impressive full-stack applications using TypeScript. By following the steps outlined here, you will gain a solid understanding of the Next.js fundamentals, including the new App Router, project structure, routing, data fetching, and styling.

Step 1: Understand the Prerequisites

Before diving into Next.js, ensure you have the following:

• Basic knowledge of JavaScript and React.
• Familiarity with TypeScript is beneficial but not mandatory.
• Node.js installed on your machine.

Step 2: Learn the Fundamentals of Next.js

Next.js is a React framework that enables server-side rendering and static site generation. Key features include:

• App Router: Simplifies navigation and routing within your application.
• File-Based Routing: Automatically maps files in the pages directory to routes.
• Built-in CSS Support: Allows for global and module-specific CSS styling.

Step 3: Set Up Your Development Environment

To get started, set up your development environment:

1. Install Node.js from the official website.
2. Verify the installation by running the following command in your terminal:

   node -v
   

3. Install a code editor like Visual Studio Code for an optimal coding experience.

Step 4: Create Your First Next.js Project

Follow these steps to create a new Next.js project:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Run the following command to create a new Next.js app:

   npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app --typescript
   

3. Navigate to your project directory:

   cd my-next-app
   

4. Start the development server:

   npm run dev
   

5. Open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000 to see your new Next.js app.

Step 5: Explore the Project Structure

Familiarize yourself with the structure of a Next.js project:

• pages/: Contains the application's routes.
• public/: Stores static files.
• styles/: Used for global styles and CSS modules.
• components/: A common convention to store reusable components.

Step 6: Implement Routing and Navigation

In Next.js, routing is based on the file structure:

1. Create a new file in the pages directory named about.tsx:

   const About = () => {
       return <h1>About Us</h1>;
   };
   
   export default About;
   

2. Navigate to http://localhost:3000/about to see your new route.

Step 7: Differentiate Client and Server Components

Next.js supports both client and server components:

• Server Components: Render on the server, improving performance and SEO.
• Client Components: Render on the client and can include interactivity.

To create a server component, define it in a .tsx file without any client-side hooks.

Step 8: Implement Data Fetching

Next.js provides different methods for data fetching:

• Static Generation: Fetch data at build time using getStaticProps().
• Server-side Rendering: Fetch data on each request using getServerSideProps().

Example of static generation:

export async function getStaticProps() {
    const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
    const jsonData = await data.json();
    return { props: { jsonData } };
}

Step 9: Utilize Caching

Leverage caching to enhance performance:

• Use built-in caching strategies with getStaticProps and getServerSideProps.
• Consider using SWR (stale-while-revalidate) for data fetching and caching client-side.

Step 10: Understand Static and Dynamic Rendering

Know when to use static versus dynamic rendering:

• Use static rendering for content that does not change frequently.
• Use dynamic rendering for content that needs to be up-to-date with every request.

Step 11: Style Your Next.js Application

Next.js supports various styling methods. You can choose from:

• Global Styles: Define styles in a single CSS file imported in _app.tsx.
• CSS Modules: Scoped styles by creating a file with a .module.css extension.

Step 12: Integrate Tailwind CSS

To add Tailwind CSS to your project:

1. Install Tailwind CSS:

   npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
   

2. Initialize Tailwind:

   npx tailwindcss init -p
   

3. Configure your tailwind.config.js and include Tailwind in your CSS files.

Step 13: Use DaisyUI for UI Components

DaisyUI is a Tailwind CSS component library that simplifies UI development. To use DaisyUI:

1. Install DaisyUI:

   npm install daisyui
   

2. Add DaisyUI to your Tailwind CSS configuration.

Conclusion

You have now learned the foundational aspects of Next.js 13, including its structure, routing, data fetching, and styling options. To further enhance your skills, consider exploring advanced features and building more complex applications. Happy coding!