Basic usage of the “Image” tag and Advantage using “Image” tag on Next.js

1.Basic Usage of the <Image> Component

The <Image> component in Next.js requires src, width, height, and alt attributes. Here’s a simple example:

import Image from 'next/image';

const HomePage = () => (
  <div>
    <Image
      src="/images/my-image.jpg"   // Path to your image
      alt="Description of image"   // Important for accessibility and SEO
      width={500}                  // Specify width
      height={300}                 // Specify height
    />
  </div>
);

export default HomePage;

2. Advantages of Using <Image> Component

• Automatic Resizing: We can specify the image size, and Next.js will automatically resize the image.
• Lazy Loading: Images are lazy-loaded by default, meaning they will only load when they are in the viewport, reducing initial load times.
• Responsive Images: The <Image> component generates responsive versions of the image (based on device width) and serves the most appropriate size.
• Optimized Formats: Images are served in modern formats like WebP automatically, if supported by the browser.
• Caching: Next.js optimizes image caching for better performance.