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Maintainable code structure

In the journey of learning Next.js, an important aspect to consider is maintaining a clean and maintainable code structure. This article will guide you through the best practices to achieve a maintainable code structure in Next.js.

Understanding the Default Next.js Structure​

Next.js has a default structure that it creates when you initialize a new project. It includes the pages and public directories, and package.json file.

  • The pages directory is where you put all your pages. Each file corresponds to a route.
  • The public directory is where you put all your static files like images. These files can be accessed in the browser directly by their filenames.
  • The package.json file contains metadata about your project and its dependencies.

This structure is easy to understand and work with, but as your application grows, you might want to organize your code in a more maintainable way.

Splitting Components into Separate Files​

As your application grows, your component files can get quite large. It's a good practice to split your components into separate files. This not only makes your code more maintainable but also easier to test.

Each component should have its own file, and the file name should match the component name. For example, if you have a Header component, it should be in a file named Header.js.

Organizing Components and Pages​

Next.js doesn't enforce any specific way to organize your components, but a common practice is to have a separate components directory for your components. You can further organize your components into subdirectories based on their functionality.

Similarly, for pages, you can create subdirectories in the pages directory to group related pages together.

Using the lib Directory for Helper Functions​

If you have helper functions that are used in multiple components, it's a good practice to put them in a separate file in a lib directory. This way, you can easily import and use these functions in any component.

Adding a styles Directory for CSS​

Next.js supports CSS-in-JS, but if you prefer to use regular CSS or SCSS, you can create a styles directory for your stylesheets. You can then import these stylesheets in your components.

Maintaining a Clean package.json​

It's important to keep your package.json clean and organized. Here are some tips:

  • Group related scripts together.
  • Remove unused dependencies.
  • Keep your dependencies up-to-date.

Conclusion​

Maintaining a clean and maintainable code structure is crucial for the scalability and maintainability of your Next.js application. It might seem like extra work at first, but it will save you a lot of time in the long run.

Remember, these are just recommendations and not hard rules. Feel free to adapt these practices to suit your needs and the needs of your project. Happy coding!