When to Use React vs Next.js vs Gatsby

Confused between React, Next.js, and Gatsby? Don’t worry — this blog is your simple, student-friendly guide to know when and where to use each one. Perfect for college projects, internships, and resume-ready portfolios.

🔷 What is React?

React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It’s component-based, which means you build your app using reusable blocks of code (components).

🎯 When to Use React

• You want full control over your app structure.
• You’re building a Single Page Application (SPA).
• You want to learn the core concepts of web development.

📚 Example:

A simple todo list app for your class project.

function TodoApp() {
  const [tasks, setTasks] = useState([]);
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>My Tasks</h1>
      {/* Task input and list here */}
    </div>
  );
}

Analogy: React is like making your own sandwich — you choose everything.

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🌐 What is Next.js?

Next.js is a React framework that gives you powerful features like routing, server-side rendering (SSR), and API routes.

🎯 When to Use Next.js

• You want a full website with SEO support.
• You need routing, login, or server-side logic.
• You’re building a dashboard or dynamic web app.

📚 Example:

A placement portal for your college with multiple pages and login support.

// pages/companies.js
export default function CompaniesPage() {
  return <h1>Hiring Companies</h1>;
}

Analogy: Next.js is like ordering a sandwich at Subway — you choose the ingredients, but they help prepare it for you.

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⚡ What is Gatsby?

Gatsby is a static site generator built on React. It builds pages at compile-time, making them super fast and SEO-friendly.

🎯 When to Use Gatsby

• You’re building a portfolio, resume site, or blog.
• Your content doesn’t change often.
• You want great SEO and performance.

📚 Example:

A personal blog using Markdown files for posts.

// blog-post.md
---
title: "How I Learned React"
date: "2025-05-18"
---

React was my first step into frontend development...

Analogy: Gatsby is like meal-prepping — you cook once and serve instantly all week.

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🔍 React vs Next.js vs Gatsby – Quick Comparison

Feature	React	Next.js	Gatsby
Type	Library	Framework	Static Site Generator
SEO Support	❌	✅	✅
Best For	SPAs	Full Web Apps	Blogs & Portfolios
Routing	Manual	Auto (File-based)	Auto (File-based)
Speed	⚡	⚡⚡	⚡⚡⚡

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📌 Final Thoughts

If you're just starting out, begin with React to understand components and state. Move to Next.js when you need a real-world website with routes and login. Use Gatsby if your site is mostly static and SEO matters.

TL;DR:

• React: Learn and build SPAs
• Next.js: Build scalable apps with SEO
• Gatsby: Build blazing-fast static websites

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💬 Have Questions?

Drop a comment or connect with me on GitHub or LinkedIn! Don’t forget to share this blog with your batchmates. 🚀