Vercel
Vercel is the cloud platform built by the creators of Next.js. It provides zero-configuration deployments, edge infrastructure, and a seamless developer workflow for frontend applications.
Topics Covered
Deployment Basics
Learn how to deploy your application to Vercel using git-based workflows or manual deployments. Covers build settings, production domains, and deployment configuration.
Vercel CLI
Install and use the Vercel CLI to deploy, manage environment variables, and run your project locally with the Vercel development server.
Environment Variables
Configure environment variables across development, preview, and production environments. Understand how variables are scoped and accessed in Next.js.
Preview Deployments
Every pull request gets its own deployment with a unique URL. Learn how preview deployments work, how to share them, and how to configure branch-specific behavior.
Edge & Serverless Functions
Understand the difference between Edge and Serverless runtimes. Learn when to use each and how to configure middleware and API routes for optimal performance.
Platform Overview
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic Deploys | Push to git and Vercel builds automatically |
| Preview URLs | Every branch and PR gets a unique URL |
| Edge Network | Content served from 100+ global locations |
| Analytics | Built-in Web Vitals and audience tracking |
| Serverless Functions | Backend logic without managing servers |
| Image Optimization | Automatic image resizing and format conversion |
Getting Started
The fastest way to deploy is to connect your GitHub repository:
- Visit vercel.com/new
- Import your Git repository
- Vercel auto-detects Next.js and configures the build
- Click Deploy
Or use the CLI for terminal-based workflows:
npm i -g vercel
vercel
Vercel's free tier includes unlimited deployments for personal projects, making it ideal for prototyping and portfolio sites.