Next.js - CSS Support

Next.js provides comprehensive support for styling web applications using CSS.
It offers various options for incorporating CSS, including global styles, CSS modules, and third-party CSS-in-JS libraries.

1. Global Styles

In Next.js, global styles can be applied using standard CSS files.

Create a styles directory in the root of your project.
Add global CSS files, such as styles/global.css.
Import the global CSS file in the _app.js file using import '../styles/global.css';.

2. CSS Modules

CSS modules allow for scoped styling of individual components in Next.js.

Create CSS files with the .module.css extension, such as styles/Button.module.css.
Import CSS modules directly into your component files and use them with dynamic class names.

Example:


/* Button.module.css */
.button {
    background-color: #0070f3;
    color: white;
    border: none;
    padding: 8px 16px;
    border-radius: 4px;
}

.button:hover {
    background-color: #0051ac;
}


// Button.js
import styles from './Button.module.css';

const Button = () => {
    return (
        <button className={styles.button}>Click me</button>
    );
};

export default Button;

3. CSS-in-JS Libraries

Next.js supports integration with popular CSS-in-JS libraries like styled-components and Emotion.

Install your preferred CSS-in-JS library using npm or yarn.
Follow the library-specific documentation for usage instructions and best practices.

Example with styled-components:


// Button.js
import styled from 'styled-components';

const StyledButton = styled.button`
    background-color: #0070f3;
    color: white;
    border: none;
    padding: 8px 16px;
    border-radius: 4px;

    &:hover {
        background-color: #0051ac;
    }
`;

const Button = () => {
    return (
        <StyledButton>Click me</StyledButton>
    );
};

export default Button;

4. Third-party CSS Frameworks

You can use third-party CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS with Next.js.

Install the CSS framework using npm or yarn.
Import the CSS files or components provided by the framework into your Next.js project.

Example with Tailwind CSS:


// Button.js
import 'tailwindcss/tailwind.css';

const Button = () => {
    return (
        <button className="bg-blue-500 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white font-bold py-2 px-4 rounded">Click me</button>
    );
};

export default Button;

5. Customizing CSS Configuration

Next.js allows for customization of the CSS configuration to suit your project's needs.

Modify the Next.js configuration file (next.config.js) to add custom CSS loaders, preprocessors, or other options.
Refer to the Next.js documentation for detailed instructions on customizing CSS configuration.

6. CSS Optimization

Next.js provides built-in optimizations for CSS, including automatic code splitting and minification.

Optimize your CSS files for production deployment using tools like PurgeCSS or CSS Nano.
Consider using Critical CSS for critical rendering path optimization.

Conclusion

With its flexible and robust CSS support, Next.js empowers developers to style their web applications efficiently and effectively. Whether using global styles, CSS modules, CSS-in-JS libraries, or third-party frameworks, Next.js provides the tools and options necessary to create beautifully styled and responsive web experiences.

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