Getting Started with Next.js 14

Next.js 14 brings exciting new features and improvements that make building React applications even more powerful and developer-friendly. In this post, we'll explore the key features and how to get started.

What's New in Next.js 14

Next.js 14 introduces several groundbreaking features:

Server Actions (Stable)

Server Actions are now stable and provide a seamless way to handle form submissions and server-side mutations directly in your React components.

async function createPost(formData) {
  "use server";

  const title = formData.get("title");
  const content = formData.get("content");

  // Save to database
  await savePost({ title, content });
}

export default function CreatePost() {
  return (
    <form action={createPost}>
      <input name="title" placeholder="Post title" />
      <textarea name="content" placeholder="Post content" />
      <button type="submit">Create Post</button>
    </form>
  );
}

Improved Performance

Next.js 14 comes with significant performance improvements, including:

• Faster local development server startup
• Improved memory usage during builds
• Better Tree Shaking for smaller bundle sizes

Getting Started

To create a new Next.js 14 project, run:

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

Best Practices

Here are some best practices when working with Next.js 14:

1. Use App Router: The App Router is now the recommended way to build Next.js applications
2. Leverage Server Components: Use Server Components by default and only use Client Components when necessary
3. Optimize Images: Always use the next/image component for better performance
4. Implement Proper SEO: Use metadata API for better search engine optimization

Conclusion

Next.js 14 represents a significant step forward in React development, offering powerful features that make building modern web applications more efficient and enjoyable. Whether you're building a simple blog or a complex enterprise application, Next.js 14 has the tools you need to succeed.