Handlebars.js vs Next.js: What are the differences?

Introduction:

In this Markdown document, we will discuss the key differences between Handlebars.js and Next.js. Handlebars.js is a popular templating engine that allows for the dynamic generation of HTML markup, while Next.js is a framework for building server-side rendered React applications.

1. File structure: Handlebars.js does not provide any specific file structure guidelines. Developers have the flexibility to organize their code and templates in a way that suits their needs. On the other hand, Next.js follows a specific file and folder structure convention that helps developers to maintain a clean and organized codebase.

2. Rendering: Handlebars.js is a purely client-side templating engine, meaning it renders the templates directly in the browser. It requires an additional step of making requests to the server and fetching the data to populate the templates. Next.js, on the other hand, performs server-side rendering by default. It pre-renders the pages on the server and sends the generated HTML to the client, resulting in faster initial page loads and improved SEO.

3. Data binding: Handlebars.js offers a simpler data-binding mechanism compared to Next.js. It allows developers to bind data to specific elements in the template using the double curly braces syntax ({{}}). Next.js, being a React framework, leverages the power of React's declarative data-binding approach. Developers can define components in JSX and pass data as props to those components, allowing for more granular control over data-binding.

4. Client-side interactivity: Handlebars.js focuses on templating and does not provide advanced client-side interactivity out of the box. It is primarily used for rendering static content. Next.js, being built on top of React, enables developers to utilize React's extensive ecosystem for building interactive user interfaces. With Next.js, developers can easily add functionality like form handling, event listeners, and state management using React's components and libraries.

5. Build process: Handlebars.js does not require a build process as it directly renders the templates in the browser. Developers can simply include the Handlebars.js library in their HTML file and start using it. In contrast, Next.js uses a build process to compile and optimize the React components and pages. This allows for code splitting, efficient bundled files, and other optimizations that improve overall app performance.

6. Server-side APIs: Handlebars.js does not have built-in support for creating server-side APIs. Developers need to rely on other libraries or frameworks to build APIs that can provide data to Handlebars templates. Next.js, on the other hand, comes with built-in API routing functionality. Developers can define server-side API endpoints right alongside their pages, making it easy to fetch data and send it to the client.

In summary, Handlebars.js is a client-side templating engine focused on generating dynamic content, while Next.js is a framework for building server-side rendered React applications with a defined file structure, powerful data binding, advanced client-side interactivity, build optimizations, and built-in server-side API routing.