React and Next.js
Occasional frontend engineering notes about React behavior, Next.js boundaries, performance, and debugging.
15 articles in this section.
Next.js Route Handlers vs Server Actions: which should you use?
Choose between Next.js Route Handlers and Server Actions for forms, APIs, webhooks, mobile clients, caching, and authentication, with working examples.
React Compiler v1.0 explained: what it means for everyday React code
A practical explanation of React Compiler v1.0, how it changes memoization thinking, and what code patterns teams should clean up first.
Next.js Bundle Analyzer with Turbopack: how to read it without panic
How to use a bundle analyzer mindset in Next.js: finding large dependencies, client bundle leaks, and performance wins that matter.
Partial Prefetching in Next.js: why your route shell matters
How Partial Prefetching works conceptually in Next.js, why route shells matter, and how to avoid confusing it with full page caching.
Next.js 16.3 Instant Navigations explained for normal developers
A practical explanation of Next.js 16.3 Instant Navigations, Partial Prefetching, streaming, caching, and when teams should care.
React Server Components security lessons: what developers should check before deploy
A practical checklist for React Server Components security after recent vulnerability lessons, focused on upgrades, boundaries, and safe server functions.
Next.js 16.2 explained: AI improvements, adapters, and what to actually care about
A practical explanation of Next.js 16.2 for developers who want to understand AI improvements, adapters, Turbopack fixes, and upgrade timing.
React performance basics: memo, useMemo, and when not to care
A practical guide to React performance tools without overusing memoization before measuring the actual problem.
Form validation in React: client checks vs server checks
How to split form validation between React client UI and server-side checks without trusting the browser too much.
Server actions vs API routes in Next.js: when to use each
A practical comparison of Next.js server actions and API routes for forms, mutations, external clients, and backend boundaries.
React hydration errors: how to debug them without panic
Why React hydration errors happen in server-rendered apps and how to debug mismatches between server HTML and browser render.
React useEffect mistakes beginners keep making
Common React useEffect mistakes, including derived state, missing dependencies, unnecessary fetching, and cleanup bugs.
Next.js caching explained: revalidate, no-store, and stale data
How to think about Next.js caching, revalidation, no-store, and stale data without memorizing every edge case.
Next.js App Router data fetching mistakes beginners make
Common App Router data fetching mistakes in Next.js, including client fetching, caching confusion, and loading states.
React Server Components explained without the hype
A plain-English explanation of React Server Components, what runs on the server, what runs in the browser, and why it matters.