intermediate

Production concerns

Caching, revalidation, images, metadata, SEO, runtime selection, and deployment operations.

Production Next.js interviews connect caching, revalidation, images, metadata, SEO, runtime choice, and deployment operations. Shipping is not finished at `next build` — observability, env config, and cache invalidation matter.

Subtopics: multi-layer caching, revalidation triggers, image optimization, metadata API, SEO crawlability, and Vercel versus custom Node hosting.

On interviews: trace a deploy from build output through CDN to first user request and stale content behavior.

Common pitfalls: missing cache headers on static assets, broken metadata in social previews, and unbounded image domains.

Checklist:

Map cache layers per route.
Automate revalidation after content changes.
Tune images for LCP.
Monitor errors and latency in production.