Back to articles

Serverless React with Next.js and Vercel: A Complete Guide

Majd Muhtaseb07/31/202510 minutes

Introduction

Serverless architecture is revolutionizing web development, offering scalability and cost-effectiveness. Next.js, a React framework, combined with Vercel's hosting platform, makes deploying serverless React applications incredibly simple. This guide will walk you through the process.

Setting Up Your Next.js Project

First, create a new Next.js project:

npx create-next-app@latest my-serverless-app
cd my-serverless-app

This command initializes a basic Next.js project structure. You can customize it further based on your application's needs.

Creating a Simple Page

Let's create a simple page in the pages directory:

// pages/index.js
function HomePage() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Welcome to my Serverless React App!</h1>
      <p>This is a simple page deployed with Next.js and Vercel.</p>
    </div>
  );
}

export default HomePage;

Serverless Functions (API Routes)

Next.js allows you to create serverless functions using API routes. Create a file in pages/api directory:

// pages/api/hello.js
export default function handler(req, res) {
  res.status(200).json({ name: 'John Doe' })
}

This creates a simple API endpoint that returns a JSON response. You can access it at /api/hello.

Deploying to Vercel

Deploying to Vercel is the easiest part.

1. Connect your Git repository: Sign up for a Vercel account and connect your Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).
2. Vercel automatically detects the Next.js project: Vercel will automatically detect your Next.js project and configure the deployment settings.
3. Deploy your app: Push your code to your Git repository. Vercel will automatically deploy your application.

Vercel provides automatic deployments for every Git push, making continuous integration and delivery seamless.

Benefits of Serverless with Next.js and Vercel

• Scalability: Vercel automatically scales your application based on traffic.
• Cost-effectiveness: You only pay for what you use.
• Performance: Vercel's global CDN ensures fast loading times for users worldwide.
• Ease of Use: Next.js and Vercel simplify the development and deployment process.

Conclusion

Deploying a serverless React application with Next.js and Vercel is a straightforward process that offers numerous benefits. By leveraging the power of serverless architecture, you can build scalable, performant, and cost-effective web applications. Start experimenting and discover the potential of this powerful combination!