Deploying and hosting Next.js applications involves publishing the
application to a web server or hosting platform so that it is accessible
over the Internet. Next.js offers versatile deployment options ranging
from traditional server hosting to modern serverless solutions.
29.1 Hosting options
29.1.1 Vercel
Specialization: Vercel, the company behind Next.js,
offers an optimized hosting solution specifically for Next.js
applications.
Advantages: Easy deployment, automatic SSR and SSG,
support for Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR), and built-in
scaling.
29.1.2 Netlify
Suitability: Ideal for static websites and JAMstack
architectures.
Advantages: Easy deployment, built-in CI/CD, and
features such as form processing and serverless capabilities.
29.1.3 Heroku
General: A popular platform for a variety of web
applications.
Special feature: Provides easy deployment and
scaling for SSR-based Next.js applications.
29.1.4 AWS, Google Cloud,
Azure
For larger projects: These cloud services offer
extensive hosting options with complete control and scalability.
Deployment: Recommended for complex, large-scale
applications.
29.1.5 Traditional web servers
Options such as Apache or Nginx: Suitable for
hosting Next.js applications, especially if you need complete control
over the server configuration.
Note: SSR and API routes require a Node.js-enabled
server.
29.2 Deployment process
29.2.1 Build process
Create a production build: Run
next build to create an optimized build of your
application.
Static export option: If your application only
uses static pages, you can use next export to generate a
fully static version of your application.
29.2.2 Server configuration
Node.js environment: Make sure the target server
supports Node.js if you are using SSR or API routes.
2 Reverse proxy configuration: If using a
traditional web server, you should configure a reverse proxy (like
Nginx) to forward requests to the Node.js server.
29.2.3 Environment variables
Configure environment variables**: Set necessary environment
variables on the production server, especially if your application uses
external APIs or databases.