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For an image that needs a stable URL, put it in a public/ directory at the project root and reference it from the site root—for example, public/images/hero.jpg becomes /images/hero.jpg. The folder stays beside src/, app/, or pages/; it never appears in the browser URL. You can also keep a local image beside the component and statically import it, or use a remote URL with explicit sizing and an allowed host pattern.
The three supported places for images
| Choice | File location | How you reference it | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public static asset | <project-root>/public/... |
A root URL such as /images/hero.jpg |
Logos, favicons, social images, downloads, and files that other systems must fetch by a predictable URL |
| Imported local asset | Beside the component or module that owns it | Import the file and pass the imported value to next/image |
Component-specific artwork that should live with its code |
| Remote asset | An external image host | The complete remote URL | Images already managed by a CMS, object store, or another service |
The right choice depends on URL addressability, ownership, and whether the bytes are local to the repository. All three can be used in one application.
Using the public folder
Where the folder belongs
Create public at the project root, next to package.json and (if you use one) src:
project/
public/
images/
hero.jpg
avatars/
me.png
src/
app/
page.tsx
package.jsonNext.js serves files in this directory from the site root. A file at public/profile.png is requested as /profile.png, not /public/profile.png. Likewise, public/images/hero.jpg is /images/hero.jpg.
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Rendering a public image
import Image from 'next/image'
export default function Profile() {
return (
<Image
src="/avatars/me.png"
alt="Profile photo"
width={64}
height={64}
/>
)
}Use a leading slash and do not write ./public or /public. The same URL works from a route in app or pages; URLs are relative to the deployed site, not to the component file.
When public is the better option
- You need a stable URL for a logo, manifest image, Open Graph file, robots-related asset, or downloadable file.
- A CMS, email, CSS file, or third-party integration must refer to the asset without importing JavaScript or TypeScript.
- Non-code content editors will replace files while keeping the URL convention.
Choose descriptive subdirectories such as public/images, public/icons, and public/fonts. The directory name is not special after the root mapping; organization inside it is yours.
Projects that use src/
Putting application code in src/app or src/pages does not move static assets. Keep public beside src:
project/
public/
images/hero.jpg
src/
app/
page.tsxIf both a root-level app (or pages) and a corresponding directory under src exist, Next.js uses the documented directory convention rather than combining them. Keep one routing location to avoid debugging the wrong file.
Keeping an image beside its component
For a local image owned by one component, use a static import. Next.js can read the imported file’s intrinsic width and height and pass that metadata to next/image:
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import Image from 'next/image'
import profileImage from './profile.png'
export default function ProfileCard() {
return (
<figure>
<Image src={profileImage} alt="Profile photo" />
<figcaption>A profile photo</figcaption>
</figure>
)
}Static dimensions let the image component reserve the correct aspect ratio before the file arrives, helping prevent layout shift. This approach also makes the ownership relationship obvious: moving or deleting the component exposes an unused asset during normal code review.
Public URL or static import?
- Use a public URL when another system needs to know the address or when the file is site-wide.
- Use an import when the image is a component implementation detail and should move with that component.
- Do not write a string path such as
"./profile.png"insrcand expect the browser to resolve it; either import it or place it underpublic.
Using remote images
An external URL is valid in the src prop, but Next.js cannot inspect that file during your build. Give the image dimensions or use fill, and allow the host and path pattern in your image configuration.
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import Image from 'next/image'
export default function ProductImage() {
return (
<Image
src="https://cdn.example.com/products/widget.jpg"
alt="Widget product"
width={1200}
height={800}
/>
)
}Configure only the domains and paths you actually use. In a current Next.js project, that is commonly done with remotePatterns:
// next.config.js
/** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */
const nextConfig = {
images: {
remotePatterns: [
{
protocol: 'https',
hostname: 'cdn.example.com',
pathname: '/products/**',
},
],
},
}
module.exports = nextConfigRestart the development server after changing the configuration. Keep the pattern specific: allowing an entire internet host when you only need one path makes accidental or untrusted URLs easier to use.
When to use fill
Use fill when the image should occupy a positioned parent rather than dictate its own dimensions. The parent needs a positioning context and a defined size:
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<div className="relative h-64 w-full">
<Image
src="https://cdn.example.com/hero.jpg"
alt="Mountain landscape"
fill
sizes="100vw"
style={{ objectFit: 'cover' }}
/>
</div>For responsive layouts, provide an accurate sizes value so the browser can select an appropriate generated image. Without either explicit dimensions or fill, remote images cannot establish their aspect ratio safely.
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Yes, as imported assets. A file such as src/app/about/team.jpg can be imported from a component in that route (subject to your project’s supported image file handling). It is not automatically available at /about/team.jpg merely because it sits under app. If you need that predictable URL, move the file to public/about/team.jpg and request /about/team.jpg.
Route-specific files such as a component’s hero artwork are often clearer as imports. Site-wide files and files referenced by metadata or external tools are usually clearer in public.
Images in CSS, metadata, and other files
CSS
CSS can address a public asset directly:
.hero {
background-image: url('/images/hero.jpg');
}A CSS file cannot generally use a React import variable. If the stylesheet needs a URL string, place the asset in public or use the bundler-specific asset workflow supported by your setup.
Metadata and social previews
When a crawler or social platform needs a URL, use a public path or a fully qualified deployed URL. Do not expose a development-only path such as /public/images/card.png. Verify the final URL in the deployed environment, including any base path configured for the application.
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Cache behavior and changing files
The current App Router guidance says Next.js cannot safely cache files in public because they may change and documents the default response as Cache-Control: public, max-age=0. Treat this as version-sensitive: check the documentation for the Next.js version you deploy rather than copying cache values from older, versioned pages.
If an image must be aggressively cached, use immutable, content-hashed filenames (for example, logo.8f31c.svg) or configure caching at the CDN or server layer you control. When replacing a file without changing its URL, browsers and intermediary caches may continue to show the previous bytes.
Common errors and fixes
“Image Optimization using … is not configured”
Cause: the remote hostname or pathname is not allowed. Fix: add the exact protocol, hostname, and required path to images.remotePatterns, restart Next.js, and check that the runtime URL matches the pattern character for character.
404 for a file that exists under public
Cause: the URL includes /public, the file is in the wrong project root, or capitalization differs. Fix: map public/x/y.png to /x/y.png, confirm the folder is beside package.json, and match case exactly (especially on Linux deployments).
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Cause: a remote or dynamic image has no intrinsic dimensions. Fix: provide accurate width and height, or give a correctly sized positioned parent and use fill. A static import can supply dimensions automatically for local files.
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The image is clipped or distorted
Cause: CSS dimensions do not match the source ratio, or object-fit is missing with fill. Fix: preserve the source ratio, choose objectFit: 'cover' for intentional cropping or 'contain' to show the complete image, and test the smallest supported viewport.
The new image appears locally but not in production
Cause: the file was ignored by version control, generated outside the deployed project, or the production URL has a base path. Fix: verify the file is committed, inspect the build artifact, open the exact production URL, and account for any configured base path when constructing links.
A practical decision checklist
- Does another system need a stable URL? Put the file in root-level
public. - Is the file owned by one component and used through
next/image? Keep it nearby and statically import it. - Is the source already on a CMS or CDN? Use its remote URL, configure a narrow allowed pattern, and provide dimensions or
fill. - Will the bytes change at the same URL? Plan cache headers or versioned filenames before launch.
- After deployment, test the actual URL, not only the development server.
Need a screenshot of the rendered page?
If your reason for organizing images is to document or test the resulting page, you can capture the deployed URL without setting up a browser locally.
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ScreenshotNeo accepts one GET request and returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. It removes cookie-consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the page and billing result in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for options.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpimport requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://example.com"}, timeout=90)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://example.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Screenshot failed: ${res.status}`);
const fs = await import('node:fs/promises');
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I put images in src or public?
Use public for predictable, externally addressable URLs. Use a static import in src when the image belongs to a specific component.
What URL maps to public/images/logo.svg?
Use /images/logo.svg; never include /public in the browser URL.
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It can load remote images only after the host and path are allowed in your image configuration, and you must provide dimensions or use fill.
Quick Recap
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