Next.js is an open-source web development framework that enables React-based applications with server-side rendering and static site generation. It was created by Vercel to extend React's functionality beyond pure client-side rendering.

Some key benefits of Next.js include:

• Server-Side Rendering: Pages are rendered on the server, providing better performance, SEO, and security compared to client-only React apps.
• Automatic Code Splitting: Only code needed for each page is sent to the browser, speeding up page loads.
• API Routes: Handle backend logic like data fetching without needing a separate server.
• Zero Config: Next.js requires no complex build setup, unlike React. Hot code reloading and scaling are automatic.
• Hybrid: Supports static generation for some pages and server-side rendering for others within the same app.
• Optimized: Next.js handles performance optimizations like image optimization and route prefetching out of the box.
• Popular: Used by major companies like Netflix, Uber, TikTok. Has strong community support.
• Flexible: Works with CSS, Sass, CSS-in-JS for styling. Supports TypeScript.

In summary, Next.js turbocharges React development by providing an optimized, production-ready framework for server-rendered React applications. Its zero-config setup and advanced features have made it a popular choice for React projects needing SEO, scalability and speed.