Next.js 15 RC: Features, Comparisons, and Code Examples

Next.js 15 RC has been released, bringing innovations in routing, API handling, image optimization, caching, and development tooling. This version focuses on improving flexibility, scalability, and performance for both small and large-scale applications. The routing system has been enhanced with support for nested layouts, parallel routes, and route groups, improving code organization and scalability. Nested layouts allow developers to define reusable layouts at various levels of the application. Parallel routes enable different sections of the page to load concurrently, reducing load times. API routes can now run on Vercel's Edge Network, ensuring fast responses and global scalability, particularly useful for latency-sensitive applications. Caching behavior has been redefined, with fetch requests, route handlers, and client router caches uncached by default, allowing developers to define caching strategies based on their use case. Turbopack, the successor to Webpack, is now stable in Next.js 15, reducing build times and improving refresh rates. Next.js 15 introduces critical enhancements that make development faster, applications more performant, and user experiences smoother. Whether building a small personal project or a large-scale enterprise app, the innovations in this version offer something for everyone.