Next.js is a popular React-based framework for building server-rendered and statically generated websites. It provides a lot of built-in features that make it easy to build fast and scalable applications.
One of the key benefits of using Next.js is its ability to integrate with a Headless CMS, which allows you to manage your content in a separate system and still have it rendered on your Next.js site. This makes it easy to update your content without having to touch your code.
Using a Headless CMS with Next.js also gives you more flexibility in terms of content management, as you can use different tools and services to manage your content. For example, you can use a tool like Contentful to manage your blog posts and then have them rendered on your Next.js site.
Teams Powered by Sanity
Developers love working with Sanity and Next.js. It's a powerful combination that makes building products a breeze.
Sanity's simple schema for content is easily deployed using the command line interface, making it a great choice for developers.
The documentation is straightforward, allowing for a quick start and making it easier to get up and running.
Existing React or NextJS libraries make the job of developers a lot easier with Sanity.
Sanity is a flexible CMS that can be used with Next.js, allowing developers to build the best products.
Clients can be assured that Sanity with Next.js is a reliable choice for building products.
Explained
Next.js is a React-based framework that allows developers to build server-rendered, statically generated, and performance-optimized websites and applications.
Next.js uses a file system routing system, which means that routes are defined in the file system rather than in a traditional routing configuration file.
This approach allows for a more intuitive and flexible routing system, where routes are defined in a hierarchical manner, making it easier to manage complex applications.
Next.js also supports internationalization (i18n) out of the box, allowing developers to easily translate their applications into multiple languages.
Server-side rendering (SSR) is a key feature of Next.js, which allows developers to render pages on the server, improving SEO and page load times.
Next.js also includes built-in support for static site generation (SSG), which allows developers to pre-render pages at build time, improving performance and reducing server load.
The getStaticProps method in Next.js allows developers to fetch data on the server and pre-render pages at build time, making it easy to implement SSG.
Data Your Way
Data your way with Sanity and Next.js. You can use Sanity's powerful query APIs to filter, sort, and shape your data on the server.
Developers love working with Sanity and Next.js, and it's easy to see why. Sanity allows developers to define a simple schema for content that is easily deployed using the command line interface.
The Benefits of
Developing a Next.js CMS can help you develop and ship faster, thanks to the ergonomic design of Sanity's React content platform, which allows you to write server code alongside your frontend's components.
This means your team can iterate faster, making changes to your app and updating the content to reflect those changes in just a few clicks.
Having a high-powered React content platform like Sanity is a force multiplier for your content site, eliminating bottlenecks across your entire stack.
Hiring better developers is also easier when your content platform and frontend framework are written with the same React.js library, allowing your team to iterate effectively across your entire stack with just a few good devs.
Sanity's community is a welcoming place for developers of all backgrounds and experience levels, providing access to large, supportive communities that create and maintain plugins, starters, and plentiful tutorials.
Here are some key benefits of using a Next.js CMS:
- Develop and ship faster
- Hire better developers
- Access large, supportive communities
These benefits can help you create a seamless and efficient development experience, allowing you to focus on building great products for your clients.
Headless CMS
A Headless CMS is a platform designed to store, edit, and manage content without a "head" or presentation layer, making it a kind of database for content with features like authentication and composable UI.
This decoupled architecture allows you to use your preferred technology for the front-end, and the Headless CMS connects your content with the front-end using a REST or GraphQL API. With a Headless CMS, you can easily bring your data anywhere, whether it's another sub-brand, mobile application, or smart-watch.
One of the benefits of using a Headless CMS is that it eliminates technology and vendor lock-in, so you're not tied to one specific technology or vendor. This means you can change your front-end framework without having to change your CMS.
A Headless CMS also provides enhanced security by decoupling the front-end from the CMS, eliminating security issues common in systems like WordPress. Without a monolithic architecture, you don't have to rely on 3rd party plugins, and you can easily limit access to relevant stakeholders where needed.
Here are some key benefits of using a Headless CMS:
- No technology and vendor lock-in
- All-in-one data source for multiple front-ends
- Enhanced security
For example, Sanity pairs perfectly with Next.js data fetching and rendering patterns, making it easy to build custom digital experiences. You can use Sanity's powerful query APIs to filter, sort, and shape your data on the server, giving your frontend exactly the data it needs.
Choosing a Headless CMS
A Headless CMS is a platform designed to store, edit, and manage content, without a "head" or presentation layer, allowing you to use it as a database for content.
It's decoupled, so you can use your preferred technology for the front-end, and connect your content with the front-end using a REST or GraphQL API.
No technology and vendor lock-in is one of the benefits of a Headless CMS, as you're not tied to one specific technology or vendor.
With a decoupled architecture, you can easily bring your data anywhere, whether it is another sub-brand, mobile application or a smart-watch.
Enhanced security is also a benefit, as decoupling the front-end from the CMS eliminates a lot of the security issues common in systems like WordPress.
Here are some key features to consider when choosing a Headless CMS:
- REST or GraphQL API
- Authentication
- Composable UI
- Additional features for content editors and developers
Next.js can be easily coupled with any API-driven Headless CMS that offers a REST or GraphQL API, making it a powerful framework for building custom digital experiences.
A Headless CMS serves as a no-code backend, helping your content editors create, manage and edit content without any input from developers.
Setting Up Sanity
Sanity is a great choice for developers who want to work with a flexible CMS. It's easily deployed using the command line interface.
Developers can define a simple schema for content, making it a quick start. Sanity's documentation is simple and straightforward, ensuring a hassle-free setup.
Sanity's existing React or Next.js libraries make it a breeze to integrate with popular frameworks. This is a major advantage for developers who want to build the best products.
Requirements
To set up Sanity, you'll need a basic understanding of JavaScript, React, and Next.js.
Make sure you have Node.js LTS version installed on your computer.
An account in the Sanity App is also required.
Here are the specific versions of the tools we'll be using:
Please note that these versions may be slightly behind the latest ones.
Setup the Project
Let's create a new Sanity project. We'll start by installing Sanity's client package, which allows us to interact with the Sanity API and enables the real-time editing experience inside the Studio.
To get started, we need to create a new Sanity project using the Sanity CLI. This will guide us through the process of setting up our project.
Next, we'll install Sanity's client package, which is required for interacting with the Sanity API. This package is the foundation for enabling real-time editing in the Sanity Studio.
Sanity's client package is a crucial part of our setup, as it enables us to fetch and manipulate data in our Sanity project.
Connecting to Storyblok
To connect your Next.js application to Storyblok, start by creating a new space in the Storyblok app and retrieve your Preview token from your Space Settings under Access Tokens.
You'll need to add the token as the accessToken directly, or from an .env file. If you choose to use an .env file, you should follow the official Next.js tutorial to set it up.
In your project, you'll need to add the env config storyblokApiToken: process.env.STORYBLOK_API_TOKEN to your next.config.js file.
This will allow you to set the accessToken: process.env.storyblokApiToken in your storyblokInit function, which will initialize the connection with Storyblok and enable the Visual Editor.
Storyblok's Visual Editor provides a live preview and point-and-click style page editing, making it suitable for both technical and non-technical users.
Using Sanity
Developers love working with Sanity and Next.js, and for good reason. It allows developers to define a simple schema for content that is easily deployed using a command line interface.
Sanity pairs perfectly with Next.js data fetching and rendering patterns, making it possible to use static site generation (SSG), server-side rendering (SSR), incremental static regeneration (ISR), and React Server Components (RSC).
Sanity can be integrated with any major framework, providing the flexibility needed to have full control of your project. Here are some examples of integrations:
Live Preview
Live Preview is a game-changer for developers, allowing you to catch typos and preview your content before publishing.
With Sanity, you can set up previews directly inside the platform, eliminating the need for slow builds. This means you can see exactly what your content looks like before it's published.
Sanity's integration with Next.js enables real-time serverless previews, giving you a seamless experience. This is especially useful when working with a team, as you can ensure everyone is on the same page before publishing.
To get started, you'll need to set up your dev server with an HTTPS proxy, using a secure connection with the application. For this tutorial, we'll use port 3010, so the URL to access your website will be https://localhost:3010/.
By using Sanity's Visual Editor and Live Preview, you can directly select and edit different components, making it easier to work with your content. This is possible by connecting the Storyblok Bridge and using the useStoryblokState React hook provided by @storyblok/react.
Fetching Data
Fetching data with Sanity is a breeze. You can use Next.js data fetching patterns like SSG, SSR, ISR, and RSC, and Sanity's got your back with the docs and examples you need.
To fetch data, you'll want to make use of Next.js getStaticProps function. This will load your data using the Sanity client you've initialized.
Sanity's powerful query APIs allow you to filter, sort, and shape your data on the server. You can use GraphQL or the GROQ query language to intelligently build queries that can filter, sort, and transform your data on the server.
The Sanity API pairs perfectly with Next.js data fetching patterns from the original getServerSideProps to the brand-new app directory. You can use queries like *[_type == "cms" && awardWinner == true] to fetch specific data.
If you need to fetch data on the server, you can use Next.js server-side rendering. This allows you to check for request parameters, like the _storyblok parameter, to load draft content only if you're inside Storyblok.
Loading Components
Loading components is a crucial step in creating a seamless experience for your users. You'll need to create a new folder called components and add files for Page, Teaser, Grid, and Feature.
To make these components editable in the Storyblok Visual Editor, use the storyblokEditable function. This will enable real-time editing of their properties.
In Next.js, you'll need a dynamic element to resolve component names from the Storyblok API to the actual components in your application. The StoryblokComponent feature in @storyblok/react can help with this.
To configure the components identified by StoryblokComponent, add a new parameter to the storyblokInit call in pages/_app.js. This will link them to their representation in the Storyblok space.
To display the components, include StoryblokComponent in your return function in the pages/index.js file. This will allow you to see the available components in your Storyblok Live Preview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CMS in JavaScript?
A Content Management System (CMS) in JavaScript is a web application that enables multiple users to create, edit, and publish digital content from a centralized dashboard. It streamlines content management, making it easier to manage and update websites, blogs, and other online platforms.
Is Next.js replacing Express?
No, Next.js is not a direct replacement for Express.js, as it's designed for React-based web applications with server-side rendering. Next.js and Express.js serve different purposes, making them complementary rather than interchangeable.
Is NextJS a CMS?
NextJS is not a traditional CMS, but it can be used with a Headless CMS to manage content. It's a React-based framework that empowers you to build fast, scalable websites and apps with a flexible content management system.
Which CMS is best for next JS?
For Next.js, consider Dato CMS, a top choice for its seamless integration, or Ghost CMS, a popular open-source option that's well-suited for Next.js projects.
What is state management tool for next JS?
For Next.js apps, Redux is a popular state management tool that helps manage data across components, both on the server and client. It's a centralized store where you can access and share data throughout your application.
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