How to Style Components In Next.js?

15 minutes read

Styling components in Next.js involves several approaches, depending on your needs and preferences. Here are a few common methods:

  1. Inline styling: You can use inline styles directly within your component's JSX code. This involves assigning style properties as objects to the style attribute of HTML elements. For example:
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const MyComponent = () => (
  <div style={{ color: 'red', fontSize: '18px' }}>
    This is my component
  </div>
);


  1. CSS modules: Next.js has built-in support for CSS modules. This allows you to write CSS stylesheets for each component, which are then scoped to that component. In your component, you can import the CSS module and assign the appropriate class names to your elements. For example:
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import styles from './MyComponent.module.css';

const MyComponent = () => (
  <div className={styles.container}>
    This is my component
  </div>
);


In the CSS module file (MyComponent.module.css):

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.container {
  color: red;
  font-size: 18px;
}


  1. CSS-in-JS libraries: Next.js can also work with CSS-in-JS libraries like styled-components or emotion. These libraries allow you to write CSS styles directly within your component's code. You can create styled components using template literals, and the styles are automatically generated and injected into the document. For example:
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import styled from 'styled-components';

const StyledDiv = styled.div`
  color: red;
  font-size: 18px;
`;

const MyComponent = () => (
  <StyledDiv>
    This is my component
  </StyledDiv>
);


These are just a few ways to style components in Next.js. Depending on your project's requirements, you may also explore other solutions or libraries, such as CSS preprocessors or CSS frameworks.

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How to implement dark mode in Next.js using CSS?

To implement dark mode in Next.js using CSS, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a CSS file for the dark mode styles. You can create a new file called dark-mode.css in the styles directory.
  2. Define the CSS styles for the dark mode in dark-mode.css. For example, you can set the background color to black and the text color to white. You can also override specific styles for elements like buttons, links, etc.
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body {
  background-color: black;
  color: white;
}

button {
  background-color: white;
  color: black;
}

a {
  color: gray;
}


  1. Create a layout component where you can toggle the dark mode. You can create a new file called Layout.js in the components directory.
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import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

const Layout = ({ children }) => {
  const [isDarkMode, setIsDarkMode] = useState(false);

  useEffect(() => {
    if (isDarkMode) {
      document.documentElement.classList.add('dark-mode');
    } else {
      document.documentElement.classList.remove('dark-mode');
    }
  }, [isDarkMode]);

  const toggleDarkMode = () => {
    setIsDarkMode(!isDarkMode);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={toggleDarkMode}>
        {isDarkMode ? 'Light mode' : 'Dark mode'}
      </button>
      {children}
    </div>
  );
};

export default Layout;


  1. Import the dark-mode.css file in your Next.js configuration file (_app.js). You can add the following code to import the file globally:
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import '../styles/dark-mode.css';

function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
  return <Component {...pageProps} />;
}

export default MyApp;


  1. Wrap the content of your pages with the Layout component to enable the dark mode toggle:
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import Layout from '../components/Layout';

const HomePage = () => {
  return (
    <Layout>
      <h1>Welcome to my Next.js website</h1>
      <p>This is the homepage content.</p>
    </Layout>
  );
};

export default HomePage;


  1. Now, when you click the "Dark mode" button, the CSS class dark-mode will be added or removed from the element, which will trigger the styles defined in dark-mode.css and enable/disable the dark mode.


Note: Make sure to update the CSS styles in dark-mode.css according to your design requirements.


What are the recommended CSS frameworks for Next.js?

There are several CSS frameworks that are commonly recommended for use with Next.js. Some of the most popular ones include:

  1. Tailwind CSS: Tailwind CSS is a highly customizable CSS framework that provides utility classes to help you build responsive and modern user interfaces. It can be easily integrated with Next.js and provides great flexibility in terms of design options.
  2. Bootstrap: Bootstrap is a widely used CSS framework that offers a comprehensive set of components and utilities to build responsive and mobile-first websites. It includes a grid system, typography, forms, buttons, and more. Next.js provides built-in support for Bootstrap.
  3. Bulma: Bulma is a lightweight and modern CSS framework that is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It offers a flexible grid system, responsive components, and a range of styling options.
  4. Material-UI: Material-UI is a popular CSS framework that implements Google's Material Design guidelines. It provides a set of pre-designed React components that can be easily customized to match your application's theme. Material-UI works well with Next.js and offers great theming options.
  5. Chakra UI: Chakra UI is a modular and accessible component library for React applications. It offers a wide range of UI components and styling options. Chakra UI has good integration with Next.js and provides efficient ways to build responsive and accessible interfaces.


It is worth mentioning that the choice of CSS framework depends on your project requirements, design preferences, and familiarity with the framework. Different frameworks have different features and styles, so it is recommended to explore their documentation and examples before deciding on the most suitable one for your Next.js project.


How to create custom CSS classes in Next.js?

To create custom CSS classes in Next.js, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a new CSS file in your Next.js project. You can name it anything you like, such as styles.css. You can place this file either in the public folder or in the styles folder (create a new folder called styles if it doesn't exist).
  2. Inside the CSS file, define your custom CSS classes. For example:
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.myCustomClass {
  color: red;
  font-size: 16px;
  /* add any other CSS properties as needed */
}


  1. Import the CSS file in your Next.js component. You can either import it globally or import it only in specific components. For example, if you want to import it globally, you can do it in the _app.js or _app.tsx file.
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// _app.js or _app.tsx
import '../styles/styles.css';


Or if you want to import it only in specific component(s), you can import it directly in the component file.

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// anyComponent.js or anyComponent.tsx
import styles from '../styles/styles.module.css';


  1. Use the custom CSS class in your Next.js component. If you imported it using import '../styles/styles.css';, you can directly use the class name in JSX as usual:
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// In your component
<div className="myCustomClass">Some content</div>


If you imported it using import styles from '../styles/styles.module.css';, you can use the class name from the imported module:

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// In your component
<div className={styles.myCustomClass}>Some content</div>


That's it! Now you can create and use your custom CSS classes in Next.js. Remember to ensure the CSS file is properly imported and the class names are correctly referenced in your components.

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How to create responsive layouts in Next.js?

To create responsive layouts in Next.js, you can follow these steps:

  1. Set up a responsive design framework: Install a responsive CSS framework like Bootstrap, Tailwind CSS, or CSS Grid to simplify the creation of responsive layouts. Follow the installation instructions provided by the chosen framework.
  2. Create a layout component: In the Next.js project, create a layout component that will wrap around the individual pages of your application. This component will contain the common elements like navigation, header, and footer.
  3. Use CSS media queries: Utilize media queries in CSS to define different styles for different screen sizes. You can override the default styles of your responsive framework or write custom CSS within the layout component to achieve the desired responsive behavior.
  4. Import the layout component in pages: In each page of your Next.js application, import the layout component and wrap the content of the page with it. This ensures that the common layout is applied to all pages.
  5. Test and fine-tune responsiveness: Test your responsive layout across different screen sizes and devices to ensure that it adapts smoothly. Make any necessary adjustments to the styles and media queries to achieve the desired responsiveness.


By following these steps, you can create responsive layouts in Next.js, allowing your application to adapt to various screen sizes and provide an optimal user experience.


How to override default styles in Next.js?

In Next.js, you can override default styles by following these steps:

  1. Create a CSS file or a CSS module to write your custom styles. You can use either of these options based on your preference. CSS file: Create a new CSS file (e.g., styles.css) and define your custom styles. Place this file in the public directory. CSS module: Create a new CSS module file (e.g., styles.module.css). CSS modules enable scoping of styles to specific components. Place this file in the same directory as your component.
  2. Import the CSS file or module in your component file. For a CSS file: In your component file, add the following import statement at the top: import '../path/to/styles.css'; For a CSS module: In your component file, add the following import statement at the top: import styles from '../path/to/styles.module.css';
  3. Use the custom styles in your component. For a CSS file: You can now use the classes defined in styles.css directly in your components' JSX. For a CSS module: Access the styles defined in styles.module.css using the styles object. For example, if you have a class myCustomStyle defined in your CSS module, you can use it in your component like this:
    Content with custom styling
  4. If you need to override the default styles of Next.js built-in components, you can apply your custom styles by targeting the appropriate class or component in your CSS or CSS module.
  5. If you are using any Next.js framework-specific styling libraries like "styled-jsx" or "styled-components," consult their documentation for overriding default styles specific to those libraries.


By following these steps, you can easily override default styles and apply your custom styles in Next.js.

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