React and Next.js SaaS Architecture Guide
Guide to architecting a SaaS platform with React and Next.js, covering App Router, multi-tenancy, authentication, and scalable database design.
Next.js with the App Router is a strong foundation for modern SaaS platforms. Here is how we architect production-grade SaaS applications.
Tech Stack
- Frontend: Next.js App Router, React Server Components, Tailwind CSS - Backend: Next.js API routes plus tRPC or REST - Database: PostgreSQL with Prisma ORM - Auth: NextAuth.js or Clerk - Hosting: Vercel plus AWS services
Multi-Tenancy Architecture
Use a shared database with tenant isolation via row-level security in PostgreSQL. Each tenant gets a workspace with isolated data, configurable branding, and role-based access.
Authentication and Authorization
Implement JWT-based auth with refresh tokens. Use middleware for route protection. Define roles with granular permissions per feature.
Database Design Principles
- Normalize core entities and denormalize for read performance - Use UUID primary keys for distributed systems - Implement soft deletes for audit trails - Add created and updated timestamps on every table
Scaling Strategy
- Use ISR for marketing pages - Use Server Components for dashboard rendering - Use edge middleware for geo-routing - Add connection pooling for database scaling