Hey everyone, I’m Ethan from ViitorCloud, and today I want to talk about something we all deal with as developers—building forms in Next.js. Forms can be a bit tricky, but using the right form library can make the whole process much smoother. Whether you're creating a simple form or a complex one, the right tool will make your life easier and improve how users interact with your app.
I've tried a bunch of different libraries while working with Next.js, and I’m going to share five of the best form libraries that can really help you out.
1. React Hook Form
I really like React Hook Form because it makes forms run fast and doesn’t cause too many re-renders, which keeps things smooth, especially in big forms.
Why It’s Good:
- It makes your forms run fast, even if they have a lot of fields.
- It’s easy to add validation with libraries like Yup.
- It handles complex forms with ease.
How to Install:
npm install react-hook-form
If performance is important to you, this is a great choice.
2. Formik
Formik is another solid option that makes managing forms really straightforward. It’s a popular choice because it’s easy to use and gets the job done.
Why It’s Useful:
- Simple to manage form state and validation.
- Works well with Yup for validation.
- You can check validation on individual fields.
How to Install:
npm install formik yup
Formik is perfect if you want something that’s simple and reliable.
3. Final Form
Final Form is great for handling complex forms. It’s all about keeping things predictable and running smoothly.
Why It’s Helpful:
- It ensures your form state stays consistent and easy to manage.
- Custom validation functions are easy to add.
- It’s optimized to handle large forms without slowing down.
How to Install:
npm install final-form react-final-form
If you’re working on a project with complicated forms, Final Form can handle it.
4. TanStack Form (formerly React Table)
TanStack Form is one of the newer options out there, and it’s great if you want something that works well across different projects and frameworks.
Why You’ll Like It:
- It works with a variety of libraries, not just React.
- It helps avoid errors by keeping things type-safe.
- Built to be fast and efficient with minimal slowdown.
How to Install:
npm install @tanstack/react-form
If you’re looking for something flexible and future-proof, give TanStack Form a try.
5. RJSF (React JSON Schema Form)
RJSF is a great tool if you need to build forms based on JSON schemas. It’s super helpful if your forms change often or need to be generated dynamically.
Why It’s Handy:
- Automatically creates forms from JSON schemas.
- Easy to customize the look and feel.
- Comes with built-in validation based on the JSON schema.
How to Install:
npm install @rjsf/core
If you’re working on projects where forms are built dynamically, this is a great option.
Wrapping Up!
So, these are my top five form libraries for Next.js. Each one has its own strengths, and the right choice really depends on what you need for your project. Whether you’re looking for speed with React Hook Form or flexibility with TanStack Form, there’s something here for everyone.
I hope this guide helps you choose the right form library for your next project. Let me know which one you’re using or if you’ve got a favorite!
Thinking about building your MVP with Next.js? At ViitorCloud, we can help bring your idea to life. We’ve worked with startups and enterprises to build standout apps. Our projects range from large government initiatives to cutting-edge digital twin solutions, showing we can handle tough challenges.
Our MVP development services speed up your product’s path from idea to market, giving you a head start. We focus on performance and user insights to make sure your MVP succeeds.
Ready to begin? Let’s talk about how we can bring your vision to life. Contact us today to make your MVP stand out!
P.S. – When you reach out, I’ll be there to support you every step of the way.
Top comments (1)
You probably don't need any of them though. For some reason people always overcomplicate forms in React, because they want to control all the state for no reason ☹️