What are some real benefits of using Next.js instead of building a React app from scratch?

Next.js provides file based routing, meaning creating a new file automatically creates a new page, built in support for server side rendering and static generation, automatic code splitting per page, and image optimization, all set up and working correctly without needing to configure complex build tools yourself.

// Creating a new page in Next.js is as simple as adding a file
// app/contact/page.js automatically becomes available at /contact
export default function ContactPage() {
  return <h1>Contact Us</h1>;
}