Screen Orientation in Next.js: A No-Extra-Package Guide

Introduction

Hello, fellow developers! Today, we're tackling an important aspect of web development – screen orientation control in Next.js. You might be tempted to reach for extra packages, but we'll show you how to do it without any added dependencies. Whether you're building a responsive web app or aiming for a seamless user experience, we've got the answers you need. Let's dive in and learn how to harness screen orientation's potential in Next.js.

Understanding the Basics

Screen orientation refers to the positioning of a device's screen, which can be in either portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) mode. In web development, being able to adapt your application's layout and functionality to these different orientations is essential for providing a seamless user experience on various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

Why Screen Orientation Matters

Imagine a scenario where you have a video on your website or a 3d model of a room, it would be nice if the viewer is in landscape so that they can feel the experience. By harnessing screen orientation, you can automatically adjust your website's layout and content to provide the best user experience in each scenario.

Utilizing Screen Orientation

import React, { useEffect, useState } from "react";

const ScreenOrientaion = () => {
  const [orientation, setOrientation] = useState("");
  useEffect(() => {
    // Function to update the orientation state
    function updateOrientation() {
      setOrientation(window.screen.orientation.type);
    }
    // Initial update of the orientation state
    updateOrientation();
    // Add an event listener for orientation change
    window.addEventListener("orientationchange", updateOrientation);
    // Clean up the event listener when the component unmounts
    return () => {
      window.removeEventListener("orientationchange", updateOrientation);
    };
  }, [orientation]);
  return (
    <>
      {orientation === "landscape-primary" ||
      orientation === "landscape-secondary" ? (
        <div>"Landscape View"</div>
      ) : (
        <div>"Please rotate your phone to view in landscape"</div>
      )}
    </>
  );
};

export default ScreenOrientaion;

Conclusion

Mastering screen orientation in Next.js is a powerful technique for providing a superior user experience. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can create web applications that seamlessly adapt to different device orientations. Whether you're building a portfolio website, a game, or a complex web app, responsive design based on screen orientation is a key element in modern web development.