NextJS Images are not rendered on Vercel

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05-10-2024

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Next.js Images Not Rendering on Vercel: A Common Issue and Its Solution

Have you deployed your Next.js application to Vercel, only to discover that your images are not loading correctly? This is a frustrating issue that many developers encounter. While Next.js's built-in image optimization feature is a game-changer, it sometimes requires some extra configuration to work flawlessly on Vercel.

Let's break down the problem:

The Scenario:

You've meticulously crafted your Next.js website, using the next/image component to optimize and load your images efficiently. However, after deploying to Vercel, you find that the images are not displayed as expected. You might see broken image placeholders, blank spaces, or even errors in the console.

Example Code:

import Image from 'next/image';

function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <div>
      <Image src="/images/my-image.jpg" alt="My Image" width={500} height={300} />
    </div>
  );
}

Understanding the Issue:

The root of the problem lies in how Next.js handles image optimization and how Vercel's serverless architecture functions. Next.js's next/image component automatically generates optimized images for different screen sizes and formats during the build process. These optimized images are stored in the public folder within your project.

However, Vercel's serverless environment does not directly serve static assets from the public folder by default. Instead, it relies on the build output generated by Next.js, which includes all the necessary assets and code for rendering the application.

The Solution:

To ensure that Next.js images render correctly on Vercel, you need to enable the next/image component's ability to access and serve optimized images from the public folder. This can be achieved by adding a simple configuration option to your next.config.js file:

/** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */
const nextConfig = {
  images: {
    loader: 'akamai',
    path: '/',
  },
};

module.exports = nextConfig;

Explanation:

• loader: 'akamai': This configuration tells Next.js to use Akamai's CDN for serving optimized images. Akamai is a highly reliable and performant CDN that Vercel uses for its image optimization capabilities.
• path: '/': This setting ensures that images are served from the root path of your application, effectively allowing next/image to find them within the public folder.

Important Considerations:

• Ensure that you have the necessary dependencies installed (e.g., next-optimized-images if using the optimizedImages configuration).
• If you're using custom image optimization techniques or a different CDN, you might need to adjust the configuration accordingly.
• For better performance, consider using the unoptimized prop when loading images that do not require optimization (e.g., small icons or placeholder images).

Further Optimizations:

• Utilize Vercel's built-in image optimization feature for further improvements to image quality, loading times, and SEO.
• Explore the options available in the images configuration of next.config.js to customize image loading and optimization based on your specific needs.

By implementing these solutions, you can ensure your Next.js images render flawlessly on Vercel, enhancing user experience and overall website performance. Remember to test your images thoroughly after deploying to Vercel to confirm that they are displayed correctly.