Next.js is one of the most popular frameworks for building React applications. It is known for its powerful features like Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Static Site Generation (SSG), and API routes. Once you’ve developed your Next.js app, the next challenge is deploying it. Whether you are deploying it to a cloud platform, a traditional web server, or a serverless platform, understanding the right deployment strategies can significantly affect your app’s performance and scalability.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of deploying a Next.js application and provide options for different hosting platforms, helping you choose the best one for your needs.
Prerequisites
Before we dive into the deployment steps, ensure you have the following:
- Node.js and npm installed on your machine. If not, download them from nodejs.org.
A Next.js project already created. If not, you can quickly set one up by running:
bash
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npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
cd my-next-app
- Git installed on your computer for version control (if using Git-based deployment platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket).
- A hosting platform account (Vercel, Netlify, or any other platform you choose).
Now that you’re ready, let’s go through the deployment process step-by-step.
Step 1: Preparing Your Next.js Application
Before you deploy your app, it’s important to make sure that your Next.js app is production-ready. The following steps ensure your app will run smoothly in production.
Build Your Application
Next.js provides a build command that optimizes your app for production. Run the following command to build your app:
bash
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npm run build
This command performs several tasks:
- It optimizes images and CSS.
- It pre-renders pages based on static generation or server-side rendering.
- It compiles your code into efficient bundles.
After the build is complete, you can run your app in production mode locally to test it:
bash
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npm start
This starts a production server locally. Visit http://localhost:3000 to ensure that everything is working as expected.
Verify Environment Variables
If you are using environment variables in your Next.js app, make sure they are set up correctly in the production environment. In Next.js, you can define environment variables in .env.local, .env.production, or through the platform’s configuration settings.
For example:
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NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=https://api.yourdomain.com
You’ll need to ensure that your hosting platform has these environment variables correctly configured for production.
Step 2: Deploying to Vercel (Recommended for Next.js)
Vercel, the creators of Next.js, offer a seamless and optimized platform for deploying Next.js applications. It’s incredibly easy to deploy a Next.js app to Vercel with just a few steps.
Step 2.1: Create a Vercel Account
If you don’t have a Vercel account, go to vercel.com and sign up using GitHub, GitLab, or an email account.
Step 2.2: Deploy via Vercel CLI
Install the Vercel CLI on your machine by running:
bash
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npm install -g vercel
Once installed, log in to your Vercel account using the following command:
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vercel login
Navigate to your Next.js project folder and run:
bash
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vercel
- This will prompt you to link your project to a Vercel project. Once linked, Vercel will automatically detect your Next.js app and handle the deployment process.
- Follow the prompts to deploy your app. Vercel will deploy your app and provide you with a URL to preview it. If you are satisfied with the deployment, you can promote it to your custom domain.
Step 2.3: Deploy via GitHub (Automated Deployments)
- Push your code to GitHub (or GitLab, Bitbucket) if it’s not already there.
- On Vercel’s dashboard, click on New Project and choose your GitHub repository.
- Vercel will automatically detect that the project is a Next.js app, configure the build settings, and deploy your app.
- Any changes pushed to the repository will automatically trigger a new deployment.
Benefits of Vercel for Next.js
- Optimized for Next.js: Vercel is designed to work with Next.js, so it automatically configures build settings, serverless functions, and more.
- Global CDN: Vercel offers a global content delivery network (CDN) to ensure fast delivery of your assets.
- Serverless Functions: Vercel supports serverless functions out of the box, allowing you to easily handle back-end logic in your app.
Step 3: Deploying to Netlify
Netlify is another popular platform for deploying static sites and serverless applications. It works very well with Next.js, especially if you’re deploying an app that leverages static site generation (SSG).
Step 3.1: Create a Netlify Account
Sign up for a Netlify account at netlify.com using GitHub, GitLab, or an email account.
Step 3.2: Link Your GitHub Repository
- Push your code to GitHub (or GitLab, Bitbucket) if you haven’t already.
- On Netlify’s dashboard, click on New Site from Git.
- Connect your GitHub repository, select the repository with your Next.js app, and configure the build settings. Use the following build settings for Next.js:
- Build Command: npm run build
- Publish Directory: out (this is the default output directory for static exports of Next.js apps)
- Netlify will automatically deploy your app, and you can access it at a generated URL.
Step 3.3: Configure Domain and Environment Variables
Once the deployment is complete, you can add a custom domain and configure any environment variables through the Site Settings in the Netlify dashboard.
Benefits of Netlify
- Easy to Use: Netlify makes it simple to deploy and host static sites and serverless functions.
- Automatic Deployments: Every time you push to your Git repository, Netlify triggers an automatic build and deploy.
- Edge Functions: Netlify supports serverless functions that you can use in combination with your static site for back-end logic.
Step 4: Deploying to Custom Servers or Other Cloud Providers
If you prefer to deploy your Next.js app to a custom server or another cloud provider, there are many options available. Let’s go over the general steps involved in deploying to a traditional VPS or cloud service like AWS, DigitalOcean, or Google Cloud.
Step 4.1: Build and Prepare for Deployment
- Build Your Next.js App using npm run build.
- Create a production-ready version of your app by running npm run export if you’re using Static Site Generation (SSG).
Step 4.2: Set Up a Web Server
- You will need a web server like Nginx or Apache to serve your app.
- On your server, install Node.js and npm.
- Clone your project from GitHub to the server or upload the project files.
- Run npm install to install dependencies.
Use a process manager like PM2 to run your app in the background:
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pm2 start npm –name “next-app” — start
Step 4.3: Configure Reverse Proxy
If you’re using Nginx, configure it to act as a reverse proxy to your Node.js application. This involves editing the Nginx configuration file to route requests to your app:
nginx
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server {
listen 80;
server_name yourdomain.com;
location / {
proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection ‘upgrade’;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
}
}
Benefits of Custom Servers
- Full Control: You have full control over the server configuration, which can be beneficial for specific use cases.
- Scalability: You can scale your app according to your needs, adding more servers or resources as required.
- Custom Configurations: You can fine-tune server settings to optimize performance for your application.
Conclusion
Deploying your Next.js app is an essential step in the development process, and choosing the right platform is crucial for ensuring performance, scalability, and ease of use. Vercel and Netlify are the easiest and most efficient ways to deploy a Next.js app, especially for smaller projects or those that rely on static generation. For more control, you can deploy to custom servers or cloud platforms like AWS or DigitalOcean.