Using Next.js in combination with a headless CMS creates a structured and efficient approach for rendering video content. In this architecture, the CMS handles video metadata such as titles, descriptions, URLs, and thumbnails, while Next.js consumes that data to render pages either statically or on demand. Video files are hosted externally through providers like Cloudinary, Vimeo, or YouTube, while Next.js handles streaming logic, rendering, and optimizations such as lazy loading, progressive playback, and custom controls. This setup supports scalable content delivery and improves performance through decoupled content and rendering workflows. Setting Up Next.js with a Headless CMS The integration starts by preparing both the frontend and backend components. Next.js serves as the frontend layer, and the CMS manages video-related content that will be queried and displayed dynamically. Step 1: Install Next.js: Begin by creating a new Next.js project using the official CLI. This initializes a project structure with pages, components, and development configurations. npx create-next-app@latest video-playback-site cd video-playback-site Step 2: Set Up Strapi (or Contentful): Choose a headless CMS. For this example, we’ll use Strapi , but the steps are similar for other CMS options. Install and configure Strapi by following the official Strapi installation guide: https://strapi.io/documentation Create a content type called ' Videos ' with fields like Title: Name of the video Description: A brief description of the video Video URL: URL for the video hosted on a platform like Cloudinary , Vimeo , or YouTube Thumbnail: Image preview of the video Category: Category of the video (e.g., Tutorial, Entertainment) Once Strapi is set up, add some sample video data. Step 3: Install Dependencies in Next.js: Install the Axios library in the Next.js project to fetch video data from the CMS. Axios provides a clean syntax for making HTTP requests from both client and server environments. npm install axios Step 4: Fetch Data in Next.js: To display videos, fetch data from the CMS using getStaticProps. This enables static generation with revalidation and improves performance by pre-rendering content. // pages/index.js import axios from 'axios'; const HomePage = ({ videos }) => { return (

Video Gallery

{videos.map((video) => (

{video.title}

{video.description}

))}

); }; export async function getStaticProps() { const res = await axios.get('http://localhost:1337/videos'); const videos = res.data; return { props: { videos, }, revalidate: 10, // Revalidate data every 10 seconds }; } export default HomePage; Configuring Video Playback Once the data is fetched from Strapi or another CMS, you can display it in your Next.js app. The key here is to manage video streaming and controls efficiently. Video Element Integration: In the example above, the

Boost Campaign Performance Through Video