Performance Is a Feature

Users expect fast experiences. Here are 10 actionable tips to make your Next.js app blazingly fast.

1. Use the Image Component

Always use next/image for automatic optimization:

import Image from 'next/image';

<Image
  src="/hero.jpg"
  alt="Hero"
  width={1200}
  height={600}
  priority // For above-the-fold images
/>

2. Implement Dynamic Imports

Split your bundle with dynamic imports:

import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';

const HeavyChart = dynamic(() => import('./Chart'), {
  loading: () => <p>Loading chart...</p>,
  ssr: false
});

3. Optimize Fonts

Use next/font for zero-layout-shift font loading:

import { Inter } from 'next/font/google';

const inter = Inter({ subsets: ['latin'] });

4. Cache API Responses

Leverage Next.js caching strategies:

// Revalidate every hour
fetch(url, { next: { revalidate: 3600 } });

// Static data — cache forever
fetch(url, { cache: 'force-cache' });

5. Use Server Components by Default

Keep client-side JavaScript minimal:

// This runs on the server — no JS sent to client
async function UserList() {
  const users = await getUsers();
  return <ul>{users.map(u => <li key={u.id}>{u.name}</li>)}</ul>;
}

6. Minimize Client-Side State

Don’t put everything in React state. Use URL search params, server state, or cookies when appropriate.

7. Enable Compression

Make sure your hosting platform enables gzip/brotli compression for all assets.

8. Analyze Your Bundle

Regularly check your bundle size:

npx @next/bundle-analyzer

9. Prefetch Strategically

Next.js prefetches links automatically, but control it when needed:

<Link href="/dashboard" prefetch={false}>
  Dashboard
</Link>

10. Use ISR for Dynamic Content

Incremental Static Regeneration gives you the best of both worlds:

export async function generateStaticParams() {
  const posts = await getPosts();
  return posts.map(post => ({ slug: post.slug }));
}

Conclusion

Performance optimization is an ongoing process. Start with these fundamentals and measure your improvements with Lighthouse and Web Vitals.