Next.JS 4

Fourth Version of NextJS

Next.js 4 was released in November 2017, following the improvements of Next.js 3. It continued to refine the developer experience with a focus on stability, performance, and usability. Below are the details of this version:

Here are the key details and features of Next.js 4:

Key Features of Next.js 4

1. Serverless by Design

Emphasized the serverless nature of Next.js apps, making them more scalable and easier to deploy to serverless environments.

2. Improved Error Handling

Enhanced error messages and stack traces for easier debugging during development.
Introduced more descriptive build-time and runtime errors.

3. Performance Improvements

Optimized build times and runtime performance for faster page loads and smoother developer experience.

4. Automatic Polyfills

Automatically included necessary JavaScript polyfills (e.g., for older browsers like IE11) without requiring developer intervention.

5. React 16 Support

Fully compatible with React 16, which introduced major features like:
Error Boundaries: Handling errors gracefully in React components.
Portals: Rendering children into DOM nodes outside of the parent hierarchy.
Improved rendering performance and compatibility.

6. Custom Document (_document.js) Enhancements

Allowed developers to customize the <html>, <head>, and <body> elements of their application.
Useful for injecting custom meta tags, styles, or scripts.
Example:

import Document, { Html, Head, Main, NextScript } from 'next/document';
   class MyDocument extends Document {
     render() {
      return (
      <Html>
       <Head>
        <meta name="description" content="Custom document in Next.js 4" />
       </Head>
       body>
        <Main />
         <NextScript />
       </body>
      </Html>
      );
     }
    }
export default MyDocument;

7. Enhanced Dynamic Imports

Continued improvements to the next/dynamic API for lazy loading components.
Introduced the ability to add custom loading indicators.

8. Code Splitting

Improved client-side code splitting to load only the necessary JavaScript for the current page.
Reduced page load times for large applications.

9. Export Enhancements

Improvements to next export allowed more efficient generation of static files for deployment to static hosting providers.

10. Community and Ecosystem Growth

Strengthened the community and integration with tools like Webpack, Babel, and TypeScript.

Historical Importance of Next.js 4

Next.js 4 laid the groundwork for many modern features we use today. It adopted React 16 early, ensuring compatibility with cutting-edge features. By focusing on performance and usability, it became an attractive option for developers looking to create scalable, server-rendered React applications.

Limitations of Next.js 4

No built-in support for API routes (introduced later in Next.js 9).
Did not include advanced features likeStatic Site Generation (SSG) or Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR).
Lacked modern optimizations for images and fonts.

Next.JS