There are many benefits of a headless approach to Sitecore development, one of which is having the flexibility in how you develop your site’s front-end. Separating the front-end presentation from back-end technology provides developers options in how they work and allows for the use of modern JavaScript libraries such as React, Vue, or Angular.
At AgencyQ, we use Next.js, which is a React framework that we believe offers many advantages, including in the manner in which it handles images.
Benefits of Next.js Images
Optimized Images: Based on the device being used (tablet, desktop, or phone), Next.js images automatically optimize their size. This leads to better site performance and faster page loads.
Adaptive Loading: Also based on the device being used, Next.js images automatically serve the ideal image format — WebP, JPG, etc. This results in higher quality images and faster load times.
Responsive Design: Next.js images simplify responsive design for developers, saving time and reducing code complexity.
Lazy Loading: Images are loaded only when the user can see them on the screen. This is another feature that increases performance.
Placeholder Images: Next.js images have the ability to make the image blurry as the image loads, leading to a better user experience.
Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO): The enhancements noted above in image optimization and load times contribute to improved performance, which can lead to better search engine rankings.
Conclusion
The headless architecture approach in Sitecore allows developers to use modern JavaScript libraries. By integrating tools like Next.js, we can improve the way images function on your website. To learn more how AgencyQ can help you maximize your website’s efficiency and optimization, contact us today.