Faust.js is an open-source JavaScript framework developed by WP Engine specifically designed to simplify building headless WordPress sites with Next.js. It handles the repetitive scaffolding that every headless WordPress project requires: WordPress authentication via the companion Faust WordPress Plugin, URL routing that mirrors WordPress's permalink structure so paths work consistently, draft post preview support (so editors can preview content before publishing), Apollo Client GraphQL setup for fetching content from WPGraphQL, and a React hooks library that replicates common WordPress template conditionals (isSingle, isArchive, isFrontPage) in a Next.js context. Faust.js reduces the time to a working headless WordPress prototype from days to hours by providing these conventions out of the box. It is best suited for projects where the Next.js + WordPress combination is firm and the architectural patterns Faust enforces align with the project's needs.
Glossary entry
