Next.js 15: What's New for Web Developers?
Next.js has become the de-facto framework for the web. Version 15 isn't just an update; it's a refinement of the App Router philosophy, focused on stability and developer experience.
For the last two years, the React ecosystem has been in a state of flux with the introduction of Server Components. Next.js 15 feels like the dust is finally settling. The team has addressed the major pain points of v13/v14—specifically caching and complexity—to create a framework that feels mature and production-ready.
The Caching Overhaul: Sanity Restored
The most controversial aspect of the App Router was its aggressive caching. In v15, the team listened. fetch requests are now no longer cached by default.
The New Mental Model
Dynamic by default, Static by choice. You control the cache; the cache does not control you. This eliminates the "stale data" confusion that plagued early adopters.
React 19 & Compiler Support
Next.js 15 is built to leverage React 19 (RC). This brings support for the React Compiler, which automatically optimizes re-renders by memoizing components and values.
Compiler handles it automatically.
Write standard JS, get optimized React.
Form handling made trivial.
Turbopack is Ready for Primetime
The Rust-based bundler, Turbopack, moves from "experimental" to "stable" for development. Local server startup times are up to 53% faster, and Fast Refresh is nearly instantaneous.
Partial Prerendering (PPR)
The Killer Feature
Mix static and dynamic content in the same route at the edge. Serve a static shell instantly, then stream in dynamic user data.