ESLint Setup for Next.js

Configure ESLint with the flat config format for a Next.js project using built-in presets.

Recipe

Quick-reference recipe card — copy-paste ready.

# Install ESLint (included with create-next-app)
npm install --save-dev eslint eslint-config-next
 
# Run linting via Next.js CLI
npx next lint
 
# Lint and auto-fix
npx next lint --fix
 
# Lint specific directories
npx next lint --dir src --dir app

When to reach for this: Every Next.js project should have ESLint configured from day one.

Working Example

// eslint.config.mjs
import { FlatCompat } from "@eslint/eslintrc";
import { dirname } from "path";
import { fileURLToPath } from "url";
 
const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
const __dirname = dirname(__filename);
 
const compat = new FlatCompat({
  baseDirectory: __dirname,
});
 
const eslintConfig = [
  ...compat.extends("next/core-web-vitals", "next/typescript"),
  {
    rules: {
      // Customize rules here
      "@typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars": [
        "error",
        { argsIgnorePattern: "^_", varsIgnorePattern: "^_" },
      ],
      "react/no-unescaped-entities": "off",
    },
  },
  {
    ignores: [
      "node_modules/",
      ".next/",
      "out/",
      "public/",
      "coverage/",
    ],
  },
];
 
export default eslintConfig;

What this demonstrates:

ESLint 9 flat config format using eslint.config.mjs
Using FlatCompat to bridge Next.js configs (which still use the legacy format) into flat config
Extending next/core-web-vitals (includes React, hooks, and import rules) and next/typescript
Customizing a rule and ignoring directories

Deep Dive

How It Works

Next.js ships with its own ESLint integration via npx next lint
The next/core-web-vitals preset bundles eslint-plugin-react, eslint-plugin-react-hooks, eslint-plugin-next, and eslint-plugin-import with strict defaults
The next/typescript preset adds @typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin rules tuned for Next.js
ESLint 9 uses flat config (eslint.config.mjs) instead of the legacy .eslintrc format
FlatCompat is a bridge that lets you use legacy extends-style configs inside flat config — necessary because Next.js presets haven't fully migrated yet

Variations

Standalone ESLint (without next lint):

# Run ESLint directly
npx eslint . --fix
 
# Or via package.json script

{
  "scripts": {
    "lint": "next lint",
    "lint:fix": "next lint --fix",
    "lint:strict": "next lint --strict"
  }
}

Strict mode (treat warnings as errors):

npx next lint --strict

Ignoring files:

// In eslint.config.mjs — ignores block
{
  ignores: [
    "**/*.config.js",
    "**/*.config.mjs",
    "migrations/",
    "generated/",
  ],
}

TypeScript Notes

# The next/typescript preset handles these automatically:
# - @typescript-eslint/parser is configured
# - TypeScript-aware rules are enabled
# - .ts and .tsx files are included by default

Gotchas

Things that will bite you. Each gotcha includes what goes wrong, why it happens, and the fix.

Flat config not detected — If ESLint ignores your eslint.config.mjs, you may have a leftover .eslintrc.* file. ESLint 9 prefers flat config but falls back to legacy if both exist. Fix: Delete all .eslintrc.* files when using flat config.
First run prompts for config — Running npx next lint for the first time shows a setup wizard. Fix: Choose "Strict" for next/core-web-vitals or create the config file manually beforehand.
Ignores must be a separate object — In flat config, the ignores array only works as a global ignore when it is the only key in its config object. Mixing ignores with rules in the same object makes it a filter, not a global ignore. Fix: Always put global ignores in their own { ignores: [...] } object.
Performance on large projects — npx next lint only lints app/, pages/, components/, lib/, and src/ by default. Custom directories need --dir. Fix: Add --dir flags or configure eslint.dirs in next.config.js.

Alternatives

Other ways to solve the same problem — and when each is the better choice.

Alternative	Use When	Don't Use When
Biome	You want a single fast tool for linting and formatting	You need the full ESLint plugin ecosystem
`oxlint`	You want extremely fast linting written in Rust	You need custom or Next.js-specific rules
`eslint` CLI directly	You need full control over which files are linted	You want Next.js-aware defaults out of the box

FAQs

Why does Next.js use FlatCompat instead of native flat config?

Next.js ESLint presets (next/core-web-vitals, next/typescript) still use the legacy extends format internally.
FlatCompat bridges these legacy configs into ESLint 9 flat config.
Once Next.js ships native flat config support, FlatCompat will no longer be needed.

What is the difference between next/core-web-vitals and next/typescript?

next/core-web-vitals bundles React, hooks, import, and Next.js-specific rules with strict defaults.
next/typescript adds @typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin rules tuned for Next.js.
Most projects extend both.

Can I use a .eslintrc file instead of eslint.config.mjs?

ESLint 9 prefers flat config (eslint.config.mjs).
If both a .eslintrc.* and eslint.config.mjs exist, ESLint falls back to the legacy file.
Delete all .eslintrc.* files when migrating to flat config to avoid confusion.

How do I lint directories outside the Next.js defaults?

# Next.js only lints app/, pages/, components/, lib/, src/ by default
npx next lint --dir src --dir utils --dir services

What does --strict mode do in next lint?

It treats all warnings as errors.
Any rule set to "warn" will now fail the lint run.
Useful for CI where you want zero tolerance for warnings.

Gotcha: Why does ESLint ignore my global ignores pattern?

In flat config, ignores only works as a global ignore when it is the sole key in its config object.
If you mix ignores with rules in the same object, it acts as a file filter, not a global ignore.
Always put global ignores in a separate { ignores: [...] } object.

How do I suppress unused variable errors for function parameters in TypeScript?

"@typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars": [
  "error",
  { argsIgnorePattern: "^_", varsIgnorePattern: "^_" },
]

Prefix unused parameters with _ and they will be ignored.

What is the purpose of the __filename and __dirname setup in eslint.config.mjs?

ES modules do not have __filename or __dirname globals.
fileURLToPath(import.meta.url) and dirname() recreate them.
FlatCompat requires baseDirectory to resolve relative config paths.

How do I type-check the ESLint config file itself?

eslint.config.mjs is plain JavaScript, not TypeScript.
You can add // @ts-check at the top and use JSDoc annotations for basic type checking.
Alternatively, use eslint.config.ts with experimental TypeScript config support in ESLint 9.

Gotcha: Why does the first run of npx next lint prompt me to choose a config?

Next.js shows a setup wizard on first run if no ESLint config file exists.
To avoid this, create eslint.config.mjs before running npx next lint.
Choose "Strict" in the wizard to get next/core-web-vitals defaults.

Can I run ESLint directly instead of through next lint?

# Direct ESLint (skips Next.js directory defaults)
npx eslint . --fix
 
# next lint (respects Next.js directory defaults)
npx next lint --fix

Use npx eslint . when you need full control over which files are linted.

How do I add TypeScript path alias support to ESLint?

The next/typescript preset configures the TypeScript parser automatically.
Path aliases like @/* defined in tsconfig.json are resolved by the parser.
No extra ESLint configuration is needed for path aliases in a Next.js project.

Essential ESLint Rules — configure individual rules
ESLint Plugins — add plugins for React, TypeScript, accessibility
ESLint + Prettier Integration — avoid formatting conflicts
Linting in CI/CD — run ESLint in GitHub Actions