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Vercel’s React framework for building full-stack web applications gets an upgrade in Next.js 16, with more explicit caching and AI-based debugging, among other features.
Announced October 21, Next.js 16 now is generally available, with installation instructions available at nextjs.org. Highlights include Cache Components, a new set of features designed to make caching both more explicit and more flexible. The new caching capabilities stem from a "use cache" directive that can be used to cache pages, components, and functions. Cache Components leverages the compiler to generate cache keys wherever they are used.
Next.js 16 also introduces Next.js DevTools MCP, a Model Context Protocol integration for AI-assisted debugging with contextual insight. AI agents are provided with routing, caching, and rendering behavior as well as unified logs, automatic error access, and page awareness. This enables agents to diagnose issues, explain behavior, and suggest fixes within a development workflow.
