Next.js: Optimizing Images with the next/image Component.

Why Use next/image?

Next.js’s <Image> component is a powerful tool that automatically optimizes images for better performance. This includes:

• Lazy loading images (loads only when they come into view).

• Automatically serving the appropriate size for the user’s device.

• Supporting modern image formats like WebP.

This feature is excellent for improving Core Web Vitals, especially Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).

Example: Using the <Image> Component

import Image from 'next/image';

export default function OptimizedImagePage() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Optimized Images in Next.js</h1>
      <Image
        src="/images/sample.jpg" // Path to your image
        alt="A beautiful scenery"
        width={800} // Set width
        height={600} // Set height
        quality={80} // Optional: Adjust image quality (default: 75)
        placeholder="blur" // Optional: Adds a blur effect while loading
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Key Features of <Image>:

1. Automatic Resizing: Generates multiple image sizes for different devices and resolutions.

2. Lazy Loading: Reduces the initial page load time by loading images only when needed.

3. Placeholder Options:

   1. placeholder="blur": Provides a low-quality image preview (LQIP) while the full image loads.
   2. You can also add a custom placeholder.

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Working with Remote Images

For images hosted on external URLs, configure the next.config.js file to allow those domains:

// next.config.js
module.exports = {
  images: {
    remotePatterns: [
      {
        protocol: 'https',
        hostname: 'example.com', // Replace with your domain
        pathname: '/images/**',  // Match specific paths if needed
      },
    ],
  },
};

Then use:

<Image
  src="https://example.com/images/sample.jpg"
  alt="Remote image"
  width={800}
  height={600}
/>

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Dynamic Images with Responsive Sizing

You can make images responsive by omitting the width and height props and using the layout prop:

<Image
  src="/images/sample.jpg"
  alt="Responsive image"
  layout="responsive"
  width={800}
  height={600}
/>

This automatically adjusts the image dimensions to fit the container.

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Bonus: Image Optimization in Markdown Content

If you’re working with Markdown or CMS content, use the next-mdx-remote library and customize images to be rendered with the <Image> component.

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Why This Is a Great Trick

1. Performance: Improves page speed by optimizing images automatically.

2. SEO: Enhanced performance boosts rankings.

3. Ease of Use: No need to manually create multiple image sizes or optimize them before upload.

Mastering the <Image> component is a must for building fast and responsive Next.js apps!