Understanding static HTML export in Next.js

Next.js, widely regarded for its dynamic application capabilities within the React ecosystem, offers a lesser-known feature of static HTML export that enhances SEO, improves First Paint times, and provides code portability. This feature allows developers to generate static HTML files that can be hosted without requiring server-side rendering, thereby improving performance and search engine indexing. The process involves using the "next build" and "next export" commands to pre-generate HTML files, which can then be hosted anywhere, freeing developers from server dependencies. While many core features such as dynamic routes and client-side data fetching are supported in static HTML export, it does not support functionalities that require a Node.js server, like API routes and server-side rendering. Despite these limitations, static HTML export in Next.js combines the benefits of React with the advantages of static site generation, making it an attractive option for optimizing web applications.