Why Next.js is the perfect solution for fast loading and scalable websites

The challenge: Decreasing loading speed as the website grows

Many companies that build their websites using CMS like WordPress sooner or later encounter the same problem: decreasing page loading speed. The more content and features are added to a website, the more sluggish and slow it becomes. This can not only affect the user experience, but also have a negative impact on search engine optimization (SEO). A slow page increases the bounce rate, which in turn leads to poorer rankings on Google and other search engines.

But that's where Next.js comes in. As a React-based framework, it provides an ideal foundation for developing headless websites that not only load lightning fast, but can also scale effortlessly as a company grows.

Why Next.js significantly improves page loading speed

1. Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generation (SSG)

Next.js offers the option of rendering content server-side (Server-Side Rendering, SSR) or providing it as static files (Static Site Generation, SSG). These techniques minimize loading time because they ensure that the page is fully functional the first time it is loaded. Instead of the browser only rendering the content when the page is called up, the HTML files are already generated on the server and sent to the client.

SSG generates pages at build time, which is ideal for static content in particular. This eliminates unnecessary server requests and the website loads lightning fast because the content is immediately available. SSR, on the other hand, ensures that dynamic content is updated server-side every time the page is called up without affecting loading speed.

2. Code splitting and lazy loading

Next.js delivers code intelligently. Thanks to code splitting, only the parts of an application that are actually needed are loaded. This means that the initial loading process is significantly accelerated. Content and functions that are not immediately required can be reloaded as soon as they are needed using lazy loading. This means that the website's start-up time is always short, even if it becomes more complex and extensive over time.

3. Real-time image optimization

One of the biggest factors slowing down the performance of websites is images. However, Next.js offers a built-in solution for image optimization. This dynamically adjusts the size and format of the images to the device and screen resolution on which the website is accessed. In addition, images are only loaded when they appear in the user's visible area (lazy loading of images). This drastically improves the page loading speed.

4. Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration

Next.js offers easy integration with content delivery networks (CDNs). These ensure that content that is required on the website is provided via servers that are geographically closer to the users. The data therefore does not have to travel all the way from a central server to the end user, which speeds up loading times worldwide.

Scalability: Why Next.js remains performant even as the company grows

As a company grows, the demands on the website also grow. More content, more complex functionalities and greater traffic are a challenge for every system. But while traditionally created websites, e.g. with WordPress, become increasingly slower, the performance of Next.js implementations remains consistently high. The following factors ensure this:

1. Microservices architecture

Next.js is ideal for use in a microservices architecture. Instead of developing a monolithic application, different parts of the website can be operated independently of one another as standalone services. This leads to better scalability, as not all functions and data have to be managed via a central server. The website can therefore grow without major performance losses.

2. Easy integration of APIs and headless CMS

Since Next.js is often used in headless environments, integrating content via APIs is particularly efficient. This strict separation between frontend and backend allows the frontend to perform regardless of the growth of the content. No matter how large the amount of data in the backend becomes, the loading speed remains consistently high because only the necessary data is retrieved and processed via API.

3. Optimized delivery of assets

Next.js ensures that static files, such as JavaScript or CSS files, are delivered optimally. By implementing techniques such as caching, pre-fetching and minimizing files, the loading process is continually optimized. Here, too, performance remains high, even as the website grows in size.

Conclusion

Choosing the right technology stack for a company website is crucial for performance and scalability. With Next.js, you offer your customers a modern, future-proof solution that ensures fast loading times through server-side rendering, code splitting, image optimization and powerful CDN integration. Even as the website grows, performance remains stable and ensures an optimal user experience.

For companies that are geared towards long-term growth, Next.js is the ideal choice for a scalable and high-performance website architecture.