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If you have just finished Learning Next.js or are in the middle of a Next.js Course, congratulations! You’ve already taken a big step towards becoming a modern web developer. But here’s the truth—watching tutorials and reading documentation is only half the journey.
The real growth happens when you start building projects. Projects give you hands-on experience, challenge you to solve problems, and help you understand how to connect all the pieces of your learning into working applications.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 projects you can build after Learning Next.js. These are not just random ideas—they are practical, beginner-to-advanced projects that will help you master Next.js and prepare you for real-world work.
1. Personal Blog with a Headless CMS
A personal blog is one of the best first projects after Learning Next.js. You can use Next.js’s file-based routing to create blog pages and connect a headless CMS like Contentful, Strapi, or Sanity to manage your posts.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn static site generation (SSG) for fast loading.
- You’ll practice dynamic routing for blog details.
- You’ll understand how to pull content from APIs.
Tip: Deploy it on Vercel for free hosting and share it as part of your portfolio.
2. To-Do List App
This is a classic beginner project, but it’s great for practicing the fundamentals. Build a simple to-do app with features to add, edit, and delete tasks.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll practice using React state and props inside Next.js pages.
- You’ll get familiar with Next.js API routes for saving and loading tasks from a database or file.
- You’ll understand basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations.
3. URL Shortener
This is a fun way to understand backend logic inside a Next.js app. Your app will take a long URL and generate a short one that redirects to the original link.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn serverless functions in Next.js.
- You’ll explore redirect logic and dynamic routes.
- You can even add analytics to track how many times a short link was clicked.
4. Quiz App
Build a quiz where users answer multiple-choice questions and see their score at the end.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn how to handle forms and manage user input.
- You can work with client-side routing for moving between quiz questions.
- It’s a fun, interactive project you can customize with categories or difficulty levels.
5. Real-Time Chat App
If you want to push your skills further after Learning Next.js, try a real-time chat app. Use technologies like Socket.io or Firebase to enable instant messaging between users.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn how to handle real-time updates in a Next.js project.
- You’ll understand authentication for private chats.
- You’ll practice structuring both the backend (API routes) and frontend.
6. E-Commerce Store
This is a bigger project, but it’s a fantastic learning experience. Create an online store with product pages, a shopping cart, and payment integration using Stripe or PayPal.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll combine server-side rendering (SSR) for SEO and client-side features for cart updates.
- You’ll work with databases for product details.
- You’ll understand how to handle secure checkout and orders.
7. AI-Powered Chatbot
AI is everywhere right now, so why not build a chatbot app using OpenAI’s API? Your Next.js app can let users ask questions and get instant answers.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn API integration inside Next.js.
- You’ll handle chat history and dynamic UI updates.
- You can also add features like image or document uploads for advanced responses.
8. Portfolio with 3D and Animations
After Learning Next.js, building your own portfolio is a must. But to stand out, add animations with GSAP or even 3D graphics with Three.js.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn advanced UI effects.
- You’ll get better at organizing components and routes.
- It will become a strong showcase for potential employers or clients.
9. Admin Dashboard
Dashboards are used in almost every company. Build one with charts, user data, and a clean design.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll learn about protected routes using NextAuth.
- You’ll display data using chart libraries like ApexCharts.
- You’ll work with both SSR and API routes for secure data loading.
10. Learning Management System (LMS)
If you’re up for a challenge, build an LMS platform where instructors can upload courses and students can track their progress.
Why this is useful:
- You’ll practice user authentication and role-based access.
- You’ll work with videos, documents, and database storage.
- You’ll create a complex app with multiple interconnected features.
Why Building Projects is Important After Learning Next.js
- You Move From Theory to Practice
Reading docs or following a Next.js Course is helpful, but it’s only when you face real coding problems that you truly learn. - You Learn How to Think Like a Developer
Projects teach problem-solving, debugging, and adapting to unexpected issues—skills you can’t fully develop from theory alone. - You Create a Portfolio
If you want a job or freelance work, employers need to see what you can build. Real projects speak louder than certificates. - You Stay Updated with Modern Next.js Practices
The framework evolves quickly, so building projects helps you stay familiar with features like the App Router, server components, and server actions.
Final Thoughts
After Learning Next.js, the worst thing you can do is stop at tutorials. Instead, start small and gradually take on more complex projects. Whether it’s a blog, an e-commerce store, or a chatbot, each project will sharpen your skills and boost your confidence.
If you haven’t already, consider enrolling in a Next.js Course that includes practical project-building. That way, you learn the concepts and immediately apply them to something real.
Remember—your goal is not just to “know” Next.js, but to use it to build amazing things. So pick one project from this list, start coding, and enjoy the journey.
