Step-by-Step Guide: Integrate Backend Service in Next.js Apps

In the world of web development, the combination of Next.js, Express, and MongoDB has become a formidable trio for building dynamic and interactive applications. Next.js, a React framework, empowers developers with server-side rendering capabilities, while Express serves as a flexible Node.js framework for handling server-side logic. MongoDB, a document-oriented database, offers a scalable and versatile data storage solution.

To create a truly immersive user experience, integrating a backend service into your Next.js application becomes essential. In this comprehensive guide, we will embark on a journey to achieve just that, presenting two practical approaches:

Approach 1: Utilizing Express-Generator

Dive into Express-Generator:

Express-generator is an invaluable tool that streamlines the process of scaffolding a Node.js/Express application. It provides a solid foundation for building RESTful APIs and handling various HTTP requests.

Easy Setup:

1. Install the express-generator package globally:

npm install express-generator -g

2. Create a new Express application:

express my-express-app

3. Navigate into the newly created directory:

cd my-express-app

4. Install the required dependencies:

npm install

Integrate MongoDB:

To enable seamless communication with MongoDB, we'll utilize the powerful Mongoose library.

1. Install Mongoose:

npm install mongoose

2. Establish a MongoDB Connection:

const mongoose = require('mongoose');

mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost:27017/my-database', {
  useNewUrlParser: true,
  useUnifiedTopology: true
});

Next.js Integration:

To connect your Next.js application with the Express server, we'll employ the next-connect package.

1. Install next-connect:

npm install next-connect

2. Configure the Express Server:

const express = require('express');
const next = require('next');

const app = next();
const handle = app.getRequestHandler();

app.prepare().then(() => {
  const server = express();

  server.use(express.json());

  server.use('/api', require('./routes/api'));

  server.all('*', (req, res) => {
    return handle(req, res)
  });

  server.listen(3000, () => {
    console.log('> Server ready on http://localhost:3000');
  });
});

Route Handling:

Define routes in the ./routes/api directory to handle API requests and interact with the MongoDB database.

Approach 2: Manual Configuration

From Scratch:

This approach involves setting up Express and MongoDB from scratch, providing you with a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Setting up Express:

1. Initialize a new Node.js project:

npm init -y

2. Install Express:

npm install express

3. Create an Express Application:

const express = require('express');

const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('> Server ready on http://localhost:3000');
});

Integrating MongoDB:

Follow the same steps as in Approach 1 to establish a connection with MongoDB using Mongoose.

Next.js Integration:

Similar to Approach 1, utilize next-connect to connect your Next.js application with the Express server.

Conclusion:

Both approaches offer effective methods for integrating a backend service into your Next.js application. Choose the one that aligns best with your project requirements and comfort level. Embrace the power of Next.js, Express, and MongoDB to create robust and engaging web applications.