Prerequisites & Setup
What you should already know before starting Next.js, and what tools you need installed.
On this page 5 sections
Knowledge Prerequisites
Next.js sits directly on top of React and modern JavaScript, so this course assumes the following coming in.
- JavaScript fundamentals — variables, functions, arrays, objects, async/await, and ES modules.
- Core React — components, JSX, props, state, and the common hooks (useState, useEffect).
- Basic command-line comfort — running npm commands and navigating folders in a terminal.
- Basic HTML & CSS — enough to read and style the components you build.
If hooks or props still feel shaky, it's worth spending time on a React fundamentals course first — everything in this course builds directly on top of that foundation.
Tools You Need
Node.js (LTS)
Next.js runs on Node.js — install the current Long-Term-Support version from nodejs.org.
A Package Manager
npm ships with Node.js. pnpm or yarn work equally well if you prefer them.
A Code Editor
VS Code is the most common choice, with strong TypeScript and Next.js support.
A Modern Browser
Chrome, Firefox, or Edge — with dev tools you're comfortable opening.
Who This Course Is For
React Developers
You know React and want to learn the framework most React jobs actually use.
Full-Stack Learners
You want one project that handles both UI and API endpoints.
Career Switchers
You're building a portfolio and want a framework that shows up in job listings.
FAQs
No — this course uses plain JavaScript by default. TypeScript is covered later as an optional, valuable addition, not a requirement to get started.
Install the current LTS (Long-Term Support) release — Next.js documents its exact minimum version, but the latest LTS is always a safe choice.
Summary
With JavaScript, React basics, and Node.js in place, you have everything you need to start. Next, you'll create your first Next.js project.