Next.js is an open-source React framework that enables you to build server-rendered and statically generated web applications. Developed by Vercel, it provides a production-ready environment with powerful features designed to streamline the development process and optimize application performance.

It abstracts away much of the complexity of traditional React setups, offering solutions for routing, data fetching, code splitting, and API routes out of the box. This allows developers to focus on building user interfaces and business logic rather than configuring build tools and server infrastructure.

The framework's emphasis on performance, developer experience, and scalability makes it a popular choice for a wide range of projects, from small personal websites to large enterprise-level applications. Its built-in support for features like image optimization, font optimization, and pre-rendering significantly improves loading times and search engine visibility.