Code splitting is important in Next.js because:
- Code splitting allows Next.js to break your application into smaller chunks. Instead of loading the entire application at once, only the necessary code for the current page or component is loaded.
- By splitting the code, your application’s overall bundle size is reduced. This is particularly beneficial for users with slower internet connections or mobile devices, as they don’t need to download unnecessary code.
- With smaller chunks of code loaded, the browser can parse and execute JavaScript faster, improving overall application performance.
- Smaller, separated chunks of code are easier to cache effectively. When updates are made to specific parts of your application, users need to re-download only those chunks rather than the entire application bundle.
- Code splitting aligns with modern web development practices, using features like lazy loading and dynamic imports to create more efficient applications.