React - Deploying to Vercel

Steps to deploy React app to Vercel

Vercel is a popular platform for deploying React applications. It provides a seamless integration with Git repositories, enabling continuous deployment, custom domains, and serverless functions. This tutorial covers the steps to deploy your React application to Vercel.

Step 1: Build Your React Application

Before deploying, you need to build your React application. The build process optimizes your application for production:

// Run the build script
npm run build

// The build output will be in the 'build' directory
                

Step 2: Deploy Using Vercel CLI

You can deploy your React application to Vercel using the Vercel CLI. Follow these steps:

// Install the Vercel CLI
npm install -g vercel

// Login to Vercel
vercel login

// Navigate to your project directory
cd my-react-app

// Deploy the application
vercel

// Follow the prompts to complete the deployment
// Once the deployment is complete, you will get a URL where your application is accessible
                

Step 3: Connect Repository for Continuous Deployment

You can also connect your Git repository to Vercel for continuous deployment. Follow these steps:

• Step 3.1: Go to the Vercel dashboard and click on "New Project".
• Step 3.2: Choose your Git provider (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket) and authenticate.
• Step 3.3: Select the repository that contains your React application.
• Step 3.4: Configure the project settings:
  • Framework Preset: React
  • Build Command: npm run build
  • Output Directory: build
• Step 3.5: Click on "Deploy".

Vercel will build and deploy your application. Every time you push changes to the repository, Vercel will automatically rebuild and deploy the application.

Custom Domain and HTTPS

Vercel allows you to configure a custom domain and provides free HTTPS with automatic certificate renewal. Follow these steps to set up a custom domain:

• Step 4.1: Go to the Project settings in the Vercel dashboard.
• Step 4.2: Click on "Domains".
• Step 4.3: Add your custom domain.
• Step 4.4: Follow the instructions to update your DNS settings.

Once your domain is set up, Vercel will automatically provision an HTTPS certificate for your site.

Best Practices for Deployment

Here are some best practices to ensure a smooth deployment:

• Use environment variables to manage configuration settings for different environments.
• Enable HTTPS to ensure secure communication between your application and users.
• Set up automated deployments using CI/CD tools to streamline the deployment process.
• Monitor your application for performance and errors using monitoring tools.
• Regularly update dependencies to keep your application secure and up to date.

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to deploy a React application to Vercel. Vercel provides an easy way to deploy React applications with continuous deployment, custom domains, and built-in CI/CD. By following the steps to build your application, deploy using the Vercel CLI, connect your repository for continuous deployment, and set up a custom domain, you can ensure a smooth and successful deployment.