NextJS 14 Folder Structure
Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025
Next.js, a powerful React framework developed by Vercel, continues to evolve, bringing new features and improvements with each release. Version 14 of Next.js introduces enhancements to the folder structure, making it more efficient for developers to organize their projects. In this article, we’ll explore the standard folder structure of a Next.js 14 project.
Prerequisites
Folder Structure Overview:
Folder Structure NextJS 14The folder structure contains various files and directories present in the project directory, such as "public," "src," "styles," "context," "services," "layouts," etc.
Steps to Create Folder Structure:
Step 1: Open the terminal, go to the path where you want to create the project and run the command with the project name to create the project.nd navigate to that folder using following commands.
npx create-next-app demonext
Step 2: Now after project folder has been created, go inside the folder using the following command.
cd demonext
Step 3: Install the required dependencies for your project (if any) using the following command.
npm install package_name
Step 4: Lets create a file with extension .env which will contain the sensitive information and credentials of the project such as api keys.
touch process.env
Step 5 :check this must present basic dependencies in package.json file
"dependencies": {
"react": "^18",
"react-dom": "^18",
"next": "14.2.2"
}Enhanced Files and Folders Structure:
For managing the project in more concise way we can create these folder for more manageable code.
- components
- layouts
- lib
- services
- utils
- assets
- hooks
Enhanced folder structureComponents:
This folder contains reusable UI components used throughout the application, such as buttons, cards, navigation bars, or form elements.
Layouts:
The layouts folder contains layout components that define the overall structure or layout shared across multiple pages in the application. These layout components often include common elements like headers, footers, or sidebars.
Lib:
The lib folder contains utility functions, helper classes, or modules used across the application. These utilities might include custom hooks, data manipulation functions, or third-party libraries that are used globally.
Services:
The services folder holds modules or classes responsible for interacting with external services such as APIs, databases, or authentication services. These services encapsulate communication logic and keep it separate from UI components.
Utils:
This folder contains utility functions or helper classes used across the application for common tasks such as data manipulation, date formatting, validation, or other operations.
Assets:
The assets folder stores static assets such as images, fonts, icons, or other files used in the application's UI. These assets are referenced in the code and displayed to users.
Hooks:
The hooks folder contains custom React hooks used throughout the NextJS application. Custom hooks encapsulate reusable logic and promote code reusability across different components.
Why NextJS project structure is important?
The Next.js project structure is important for keeping everything organized and easy to manage. It helps developers work together smoothly and allows the application to expand without getting confusion. With a clear structure, it's simpler to find and modify different parts of the code. Plus, it ensures that the project remains consistent and high-quality, leading to smoother development and deployment processes. Ultimately, a well-thought-out structure sets the stage for successful development and long-term maintenance of Next.js applications.
Optimal Approaches for Next.js Project Structure
Creating a clear project structure in Next.js is key for smooth development. When you organize files by what they do and put them in the right folders, it makes everything easier to understand and maintain. For example, if you have components that you'll use in different parts of your app, keep them in the components folder. Also, using consistent names for files and folders makes it simpler to check if everything's there and working right. These simple steps help keep your codebase clean, speed up development, and ensure your Next.js project is top-notch.
Conclusion :
Creating a structured folder layout is important for maintaining a Next.js project. It enhances readability, maintainability, and scalability, making it easier to manage the codebase effectively. By implementing a clear structure, developer can navigate through the project, ensuring efficient management and as the application grows.
Similar Reads
React Tutorial React is a powerful JavaScript library for building fast, scalable front-end applications. Created by Facebook, it's known for its component-based structure, single-page applications (SPAs), and virtual DOM,enabling efficient UI updates and a seamless user experience.Note: The latest stable version
7 min read
React Fundamentals
React IntroductionReactJS is a component-based JavaScript library used to build dynamic and interactive user interfaces. It simplifies the creation of single-page applications (SPAs) with a focus on performance and maintainability. "Hello, World!" Program in ReactJavaScriptimport React from 'react'; function App() {
6 min read
React Environment SetupTo run any React application, we need to first setup a ReactJS Development Environment. In this article, we will show you a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring a working React development environment.Pre-requisite:We must have Nodejs installed on our PC. So, the very first step will be
3 min read
React JS ReactDOMReactDOM is a core React package that provides DOM-specific methods to interact with and manipulate the Document Object Model (DOM), enabling efficient rendering and management of web page elements. ReactDOM is used for: Rendering Components: Displays React components in the DOM.DOM Manipulation: Al
2 min read
React JSXJSX stands for JavaScript XML, and it is a special syntax used in React to simplify building user interfaces. JSX allows you to write HTML-like code directly inside JavaScript, enabling you to create UI components more efficiently. Although JSX looks like regular HTML, it’s actually a syntax extensi
5 min read
ReactJS Rendering ElementsIn this article we will learn about rendering elements in ReactJS, updating the rendered elements and will also discuss about how efficiently the elements are rendered.What are React Elements?React elements are the smallest building blocks of a React application. They are different from DOM elements
3 min read
React ListsIn lists, React makes it easier to render multiple elements dynamically from arrays or objects, ensuring efficient and reusable code. Since nearly 85% of React projects involve displaying data collections—like user profiles, product catalogs, or tasks—understanding how to work with lists.To render a
4 min read
React FormsIn React, forms are used to take input from users, like text, numbers, or selections. They work just like HTML forms but are often controlled by React state so you can easily track and update the input values.Example:JavaScriptimport React, { useState } from 'react'; function MyForm() { const [name,
4 min read
ReactJS KeysA key serves as a unique identifier in React, helping to track which items in a list have changed, been updated, or removed. It is particularly useful when dynamically creating components or when users modify the list. When rendering a list, you need to assign a unique key prop to each element in th
4 min read
Components in React
React ComponentsIn React, components are reusable, independent code blocks (A function or a class) that define the structure and behavior of the UI. They accept inputs (props or properties) and return elements that describe what should appear on the screen.Key Concepts of React Components:Each component handles its
4 min read
ReactJS Functional ComponentsIn ReactJS, functional components are a core part of building user interfaces. They are simple, lightweight, and powerful tools for rendering UI and handling logic. Functional components can accept props as input and return JSX that describes what the component should render.Example:JavaScriptimport
4 min read
React Class ComponentsClass components are ES6 classes that extend React.Component. They allow state management and lifecycle methods for complex UI logic.Used for stateful components before Hooks.Support lifecycle methods for mounting, updating, and unmounting.The render() method in React class components returns JSX el
3 min read
ReactJS Pure ComponentsReactJS Pure Components are similar to regular class components but with a key optimization. They skip re-renders when the props and state remain the same. While class components are still supported in React, it's generally recommended to use functional components with hooks in new code for better p
4 min read
ReactJS Container and Presentational Pattern in ComponentsIn this article we will categorise the react components in two types depending on the pattern in which they are written in application and will learn briefly about these two categories. We will also discuss about alternatives to this pattern. Presentational and Container ComponentsThe type of compon
2 min read
ReactJS PropTypesIn ReactJS PropTypes are the property that is mainly shared between the parent components to the child components. It is used to solve the type validation problem.Type Safety: When the wrong data type is passed in the component, prototypes help find the issues.Better Debugging: During development, t
5 min read
React Lifecycle In React, the lifecycle refers to the various stages a component goes through. These stages allow developers to run specific code at key moments, such as when the component is created, updated, or removed. By understanding the React lifecycle, you can better manage resources, side effects, and perfo
7 min read
React Hooks
Routing in React
Advanced React Concepts
React Projects