Nextjs Basics & Setup Interview Questions

Next.js is a React framework that provides features like server-side rendering, static site generation, file-based routing, API routes, and built-in optimizations. It simplifies building production-ready React applications with improved performance and SEO capabilities.

Create a Next.js project using 'npx create-next-app@latest' or 'yarn create next-app'. This sets up a new project with default configuration including TypeScript support, ESLint, and basic project structure.

Next.js project structure includes pages directory for routes, public for static assets, styles for CSS, components for reusable UI components, and next.config.js for configuration. The app directory is used for the App Router in newer versions.

Core dependencies include React, React DOM, and Next.js itself. These are automatically included in package.json when creating a new project. Additional dependencies can be added based on project requirements.

Default scripts include 'dev' for development server, 'build' for production build, 'start' for production server, and 'lint' for linting. These are defined in package.json and can be run using npm or yarn.

Run development server using 'npm run dev' or 'yarn dev'. This starts the application with hot reloading at localhost:3000 by default. Changes are automatically reflected without manual refresh.

next.config.js is a configuration file for customizing Next.js behavior. It can configure webpack, environment variables, redirects, rewrites, image optimization, and other build-time features.

Environment variables are handled using .env files (.env.local, .env.development, .env.production). Variables prefixed with NEXT_PUBLIC_ are exposed to the browser. Others are only available server-side.

The pages directory uses the Pages Router, while app directory uses the newer App Router. App Router supports React Server Components, nested layouts, and improved routing patterns by default.

TypeScript is supported out of the box. Create project with --typescript flag or add manually by creating tsconfig.json and installing typescript and @types/react. Next.js automatically detects and configures TypeScript.

Custom server configuration requires creating server.js file, implementing custom routing logic, and modifying package.json scripts. Supports Express or other Node.js server frameworks. Affects features like automatic static optimization.

Webpack configuration is customized in next.config.js using webpack function. Can modify loaders, plugins, and other webpack options. Supports extending default configuration while maintaining Next.js optimizations.

CI/CD implementation includes setting up build pipelines, automated testing, deployment scripts. Configure with services like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or CircleCI. Handle environment variables and build caching.

Configure path aliases in tsconfig.json or jsconfig.json using baseUrl and paths. Supports absolute imports and custom module resolution. Improves code organization and maintainability.

Build optimizations include code splitting, tree shaking, image optimization, and bundle analysis. Configure in next.config.js. Use build plugins and optimization features. Monitor build performance.

Static files are served from public directory. Support automatic optimization for images. Configure caching headers and CDN options. Handle different file types appropriately.

Project architecture includes directory structure, code organization, module patterns. Consider scalability, maintainability. Implement feature-based or domain-driven design. Handle shared code.

Dependency management includes version control, package updates, security audits. Use package managers effectively. Handle peer dependencies. Implement dependency optimization.

Code quality tools include ESLint, Prettier, TypeScript. Configure linting rules. Implement pre-commit hooks. Handle code formatting. Support team coding standards.

Project documentation includes README, API docs, component documentation. Use tools like Storybook. Implement documentation generation. Maintain documentation updates.

Advanced configuration includes custom babel config, module federation, plugin system. Handle complex build scenarios. Implement configuration management. Support extensibility.

Monorepo setup includes workspace configuration, shared dependencies, build orchestration. Use tools like Turborepo. Handle package management. Implement shared configurations.

Build plugins extend Next.js functionality. Create custom webpack plugins. Handle build process modifications. Implement plugin architecture. Support plugin configuration.

Advanced optimization includes custom cache strategies, bundle optimization, resource prioritization. Handle performance bottlenecks. Implement optimization pipelines.

Custom build processes include build scripts, asset pipeline, deployment automation. Handle build environments. Implement build orchestration. Support custom builds.

Project scalability includes architecture patterns, performance optimization, code organization. Handle growing codebases. Implement scalable patterns. Support team collaboration.

Advanced testing includes test infrastructure, CI integration, test automation. Handle complex test scenarios. Implement test strategies. Support comprehensive testing.

Security configurations include CSP headers, security middleware, vulnerability scanning. Handle security policies. Implement security measures. Support secure deployment.

Monitoring setup includes error tracking, performance monitoring, analytics integration. Handle monitoring tools. Implement logging strategies. Support monitoring dashboards.

Advanced deployment includes zero-downtime deployment, rollback strategies, deployment automation. Handle deployment environments. Implement deployment pipelines. Support deployment monitoring.