Import Image from next/image, provide dimensions or use fill, and describe the image with alt text. For responsive layouts, set sizes to match the rendered width. Keep ordinary offscreen images lazy-loaded, and reserve high priority or preloading for the image most likely to be the page’s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) element. The examples below follow the Next.js Image Component reference updated March 16, 2026; check your installed Next.js version before using version-sensitive props.
Start with the right image layout
The Next.js Image component extends the HTML <img> element with automatic image optimization. Import it from next/image. Use explicit width and height when the image has known dimensions; use fill when it should size itself to a parent container.
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Known dimensions
For a local image with a defined intrinsic size, provide its source, dimensions, and meaningful alternative text:
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export default function ProductPhoto() {
return (
<Image
src="/images/product.jpg"
width={1200}
height={800}
alt="Blue ceramic mug on a wooden table"
/>
)
}Choose dimensions that reflect the image’s intrinsic aspect ratio. The values provide layout information; use CSS to control its displayed size where needed. Write alt text that conveys the image’s relevant content or function. If an image is decorative, use an empty alt value rather than describing irrelevant details.
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Fill a parent container
Use fill when the image should cover a container whose dimensions come from the layout. The parent must establish positioning, such as relative, fixed, or absolute. Choose an object-fit rule according to whether cropping is acceptable:
<div className="relative aspect-[16/9]">
<Image
src="/images/landscape.jpg"
alt="Mountain valley beneath a cloudy sky"
fill
sizes="100vw"
style={{ objectFit: 'cover' }}
/>
</div>cover fills the box and may crop the image; contain preserves the full image and may leave unused space. Give the container a real size, for example with an aspect ratio or explicit height, so the fill image has an area to occupy.
Make responsive image selection match the layout
When an image’s rendered width varies with the viewport, set sizes to describe its expected CSS width. The browser uses that information to choose among the generated srcset candidates. A value that overstates or understates the real layout can lead to an unnecessarily large or too-small candidate.
Example: full-width on small screens, one-third width otherwise
<Image
src="/images/story.jpg"
alt="A field of sunflowers at sunset"
width={1600}
height={1067}
sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 33vw"
/>This expression follows the documented example pattern. Adapt the breakpoint and percentages to the actual CSS layout: a three-column grid, a fixed-width sidebar, and a full-bleed hero do not have the same rendered width. If the image uses fill, include sizes as well when its display width is responsive.
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Allow only the image sources the app needs
For a remote image, configure an allowlist in next.config.js before rendering it. Restrict the protocol, hostname, pathname and, where relevant, query string to the source URLs your app expects.
/** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */
const nextConfig = {
images: {
remotePatterns: [
{
protocol: 'https',
hostname: 'images.example.com',
port: '',
pathname: '/products/**',
search: '',
},
],
},
}
module.exports = nextConfigReplace the example host and path with your real image source. Restart or redeploy the app after changing configuration. A remote URL that does not match the pattern is rejected with a 400 response. Avoid omitting pattern fields casually: omitted fields can act as wildcards and permit a broader set of URLs than intended.
Restrict local paths when useful
You can also use localPatterns to limit which local paths may be optimized. A local source outside the configured pattern receives a 400 response. This is useful when an application has local image routes that should not all be accepted by the optimizer.
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Use current configuration instead of deprecated options
The domains configuration has been deprecated since Next.js 14 in favor of remotePatterns. Unlike a narrowly defined pattern, domains cannot limit protocol, port, or pathname. Check the API reference for the configuration syntax supported by your installed version.
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Choose lazy loading, eager loading, or preload deliberately
Images are lazy-loaded by default. That suits many images below the fold because the browser can defer fetching them until they are near the viewport. For an image that must load promptly, consider eager loading or fetchPriority="high". These are selective controls, not defaults to apply to every image.
Preload only the likely LCP image
If a single above-the-fold image is likely to be the page’s LCP element, preloading it may be appropriate. Do not preload several competing images, or combine preload with loading or fetchPriority on the same image. In Next.js 16, priority is deprecated in favor of preload; for example:
<Image
src="/images/home-hero.jpg"
alt="A family walking along a beach"
width={1800}
height={1000}
sizes="100vw"
preload
/>For versions before Next.js 16, consult the documentation for the supported prop rather than copying a newer example unchanged. Decide based on the page’s actual content and framework version, not simply because an image appears near the top.
Add a blur placeholder only when you have suitable data
To show a blur-up placeholder, set placeholder="blur" and provide blurDataURL. Supported static JPG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF imports can provide blur data automatically unless the image is animated. Remote and dynamically sourced images need a manually supplied blur data URL.
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<Image
src="https://images.example.com/products/mug.jpg"
alt="Blue ceramic mug"
width={900}
height={900}
placeholder="blur"
blurDataURL="data:image/jpeg;base64,..."
/>Replace the shortened example value with a real, small blur data URL; it is not usable as written. Large embedded blur data can add unnecessary payload. If you do not have appropriate blur data, omit the placeholder rather than inventing one.
Know when the built-in optimizer is not the right delivery path
Authenticated image sources
The built-in optimizer does not forward request headers when fetching an image source. If the origin requires authentication, the optimizer may not be able to retrieve it. The Next.js documentation suggests considering unoptimized for such sources, but assess the delivery architecture before applying that prop broadly: it bypasses the normal optimization path.
SVG sources
SVG is not optimized by default. For a known SVG source, the documentation recommends considering unoptimized. If you enable SVG serving, the docs also recommend attachment disposition and a restrictive content security policy. Review the security implications and your version’s configuration guidance before enabling it.
Custom delivery and quality settings
A custom loader or loaderFile can generate URLs for a separate image CDN or transformation service when that delivery architecture fits your app. The official reference describes the integration point but does not establish a particular provider as best. The documented quality range is 1–100, and configured allowlists can constrain permitted values; check current requirements for your Next.js version rather than assuming any value is accepted.
Troubleshoot common problems
- Remote image returns 400: Check that its protocol, hostname, port, pathname and query string match a
remotePatternsentry exactly. Add only the scope the app needs. - Local image returns 400: If using
localPatterns, confirm the requested path matches an allowed pattern. - Fill image has no visible size: Give its parent positioning and a definite layout area, such as an aspect ratio or height. Check that the image is not hidden or covered by other layout elements.
- Responsive image downloads an unexpectedly large candidate: Compare the actual CSS width at each breakpoint with the
sizesexpression. Correct the expression to describe the rendered slot, not the source file’s dimensions. - Authenticated remote image cannot be fetched: The optimizer does not forward source authentication headers. Consider a delivery path that does not rely on forwarded headers, including
unoptimizedwhere appropriate. - SVG handling differs from raster images: SVG is not optimized by default. Use
unoptimizedfor a known SVG source, or review the documented security controls before enabling SVG serving. - Blur placeholder is missing or fails: Confirm that remote or dynamic images have a valid
blurDataURL; do not assume they receive one automatically. - A prop example fails in your project: Check the installed Next.js version. In particular, Next.js 16 deprecates
priorityin favor ofpreload, and older configuration such asdomainshas been deprecated since Next.js 14.
Performance, reliability, and cost considerations
Use dimensions or a sized fill container to make layout behavior predictable, and give responsive images accurate sizes so the browser can select an appropriate candidate. Avoid preloading multiple images without a clear reason. The API reference documents a default optimization response-body limit of 50 MB; this is a technical limit, not a performance benchmark. Actual delivery behavior depends on the app’s configuration, source images, deployment and browser.
For browser-level checks of a page you control, inspect the rendered result at the viewport sizes relevant to your layout and verify that the chosen source, crop and loading behavior match expectations. ScreenshotNeo is a separate website screenshot API and MCP server, not part of the Next.js Image component; it can capture pages for visual checks.
Or skip the browser setup
For a screenshot of a published page, ScreenshotNeo takes a URL in one request. This returns a WebP screenshot in the example:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie and consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets before capture; each step can be turned off. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits cost nothing, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server offers take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 shots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. See ScreenshotNeo and sign up free.
FAQ
What happens if I leave out sizes?
The browser has less information about the image’s expected rendered width when selecting a responsive candidate. Add a value that describes the layout whenever the displayed width is responsive.
Can I use fill without positioning the parent?
No. The parent needs positioning such as relative, fixed, or absolute, as well as a layout area for the image to fill.
Do blur placeholders work automatically for remote images?
No. Remote and dynamic images need a manually supplied blurDataURL; supported static imports can provide one automatically in the documented cases.
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Official reference
Next.js Image Component API reference (updated March 16, 2026).
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