Document is not defined error during Vercel build

[druzejama3etna (Jama3etna)]

Hey everyone

We’re running into a persistent build issue on Vercel that’s blocking deployment. The project is a Next.js 14 app hosted on Vercel, and the error appears during the build phase when generating static pages.

---

Current vs. Expected Behavior

Expected:
Build completes successfully and all routes are pre-rendered.

Current:
Build fails with the following error:

javascript

CopyEdit

ReferenceError: document is not defined

This breaks prerendering for multiple routes like /, /community, /profile, etc.

---

Full Error Output

[02:27:04.250] Cloning github.com/DruzeJama3etna/jama3etna (Branch: Site, Commit: 4b6a350)
[02:27:04.664] Previous build caches not available
[02:27:05.730] Cloning completed: 1.478s
[02:27:06.148] Running build in Washington, D.C., USA (East) – iad1
[02:27:06.299] Running "vercel build"
[02:27:06.681] Vercel CLI 41.6.0
[02:27:06.997] Installing dependencies...
[02:27:10.245] npm warn deprecated rimraf@3.0.2: Rimraf versions prior to v4 are no longer supported
[02:27:10.456] npm warn deprecated q@1.5.1: You or someone you depend on is using Q, the JavaScript Promise library that gave JavaScript developers strong feelings about promises. They can almost certainly migrate to the native JavaScript promise now. Thank you literally everyone for joining me in this bet against the odds. Be excellent to each other.
[02:27:10.458] npm warn deprecated
[02:27:10.459] npm warn deprecated (For a CapTP with native promises, see @endo/eventual-send and @endo/captp)
[02:27:11.332] npm warn deprecated inflight@1.0.6: This module is not supported, and leaks memory. Do not use it. Check out lru-cache if you want a good and tested way to coalesce async requests by a key value, which is much more comprehensive and powerful.
[02:27:11.492] npm warn deprecated har-validator@5.1.5: this library is no longer supported
[02:27:11.521] npm warn deprecated request@2.88.2: request has been deprecated, see https://github.com/request/request/issues/3142
[02:27:11.897] npm warn deprecated node-domexception@1.0.0: Use your platform's native DOMException instead
[02:27:13.372] npm warn deprecated @humanwhocodes/config-array@0.13.0: Use @eslint/config-array instead
[02:27:13.413] npm warn deprecated @humanwhocodes/object-schema@2.0.3: Use @eslint/object-schema instead
[02:27:14.252] npm warn deprecated glob@7.2.3: Glob versions prior to v9 are no longer supported
[02:27:14.436] npm warn deprecated uuid@3.4.0: Please upgrade  to version 7 or higher.  Older versions may use Math.random() in certain circumstances, which is known to be problematic.  See https://v8.dev/blog/math-random for details.
[02:27:17.508] npm warn deprecated eslint@8.57.1: This version is no longer supported. Please see https://eslint.org/version-support for other options.
[02:27:30.587] 
[02:27:30.588] added 792 packages in 23s
[02:27:30.592] 
[02:27:30.593] 172 packages are looking for funding
[02:27:30.594]   run `npm fund` for details
[02:27:30.656] Detected Next.js version: 14.2.28
[02:27:30.665] Running "npm run build"
[02:27:30.831] 
[02:27:30.832] > jama3etna@0.1.0 build
[02:27:30.832] > next build
[02:27:30.832] 
[02:27:31.407] Attention: Next.js now collects completely anonymous telemetry regarding usage.
[02:27:31.408] This information is used to shape Next.js' roadmap and prioritize features.
[02:27:31.408] You can learn more, including how to opt-out if you'd not like to participate in this anonymous program, by visiting the following URL:
[02:27:31.408] https://nextjs.org/telemetry
[02:27:31.408] 
[02:27:31.480]   ▲ Next.js 14.2.28
[02:27:31.481]   - Environments: .env
[02:27:31.481] 
[02:27:31.640]    Creating an optimized production build ...
[02:28:12.410]  ✓ Compiled successfully
[02:28:12.411]    Skipping validation of types
[02:28:12.411]    Linting ...
[02:28:12.708]    Collecting page data ...
[02:28:16.112]    Generating static pages (0/19) ...
[02:28:16.931]    Generating static pages (4/19) 
[02:28:17.277]    Generating static pages (9/19) 
[02:28:17.652] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.653]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.653]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.653]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.653]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.653]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.653]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967) {
[02:28:17.653]   digest: '638016084'
[02:28:17.653] }
[02:28:17.653] 
[02:28:17.653] Error occurred prerendering page "/_not-found". Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/prerender-error
[02:28:17.653] 
[02:28:17.653] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.653]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.653]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.654]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.654]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.654]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.654]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.655]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967)
[02:28:17.663]    Generating static pages (14/19) 
[02:28:17.780] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.781]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.781]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.781]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.785]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.785]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.786]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.786]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.786]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.786]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.787]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967) {
[02:28:17.787]   digest: '638016084'
[02:28:17.787] }
[02:28:17.787] 
[02:28:17.788] Error occurred prerendering page "/community". Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/prerender-error
[02:28:17.788] 
[02:28:17.788] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.788]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.789]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.789]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.789]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.790]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.790]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.790]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.791]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.791]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.791]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967)
[02:28:17.907] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.908]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.909]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.909]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.909]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.909]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.910]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.910]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.910]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.911]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.911]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967) {
[02:28:17.911]   digest: '638016084'
[02:28:17.912] }
[02:28:17.912] 
[02:28:17.916] Error occurred prerendering page "/dms". Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/prerender-error
[02:28:17.916] 
[02:28:17.916] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.917]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.917]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.918]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.918]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.918]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.918]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.919]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.919]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.919]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.919]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967)
[02:28:17.997] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:17.998]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:17.998]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:17.998]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:17.998]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:17.999]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:17.999]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:17.999]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.999]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:17.999]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:17.999]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967) {
[02:28:18.000]   digest: '638016084'
[02:28:18.000] }
[02:28:18.000] 
[02:28:18.000] Error occurred prerendering page "/druze-global". Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/prerender-error
[02:28:18.000] 
[02:28:18.001] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:18.001]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:18.001]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:18.001]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:18.001]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:18.002]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:18.002]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:18.002]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.002]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:18.003]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.003]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967)
[02:28:18.028] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:18.028]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:18.029]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:18.029]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:18.029]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:18.030]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:18.030]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:18.030]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.031]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:18.031]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.033]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967) {
[02:28:18.034]   digest: '638016084'
[02:28:18.034] }
[02:28:18.063] 
[02:28:18.063] Error occurred prerendering page "/". Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/prerender-error
[02:28:18.063] 
[02:28:18.063] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:18.063]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:18.063]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:18.063]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:18.063]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:18.064]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:18.064]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:18.064]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.064]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:18.064]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.064]     at 40759 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/664.js:1:2967)
[02:28:18.128] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:18.129]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:18.129]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:18.129]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:18.129]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:18.129]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:18.129]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:18.130]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.130]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:18.130]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.130]     at 83844 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/app/profile/page.js:1:91932) {
[02:28:18.131]   digest: '2089544392'
[02:28:18.131] }
[02:28:18.131] 
[02:28:18.131] Error occurred prerendering page "/profile". Read more: https://nextjs.org/docs/messages/prerender-error
[02:28:18.131] 
[02:28:18.132] ReferenceError: document is not defined
[02:28:18.132]     at createTag (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15885)
[02:28:18.132]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28773
[02:28:18.132]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:28896
[02:28:18.132]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:31721
[02:28:18.133]     at /vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15550
[02:28:18.133]     at 60496 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:15554)
[02:28:18.133]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.133]     at 19245 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/chunks/58.js:1:6566)
[02:28:18.133]     at t (/vercel/path0/.next/server/webpack-runtime.js:1:143)
[02:28:18.133]     at 83844 (/vercel/path0/.next/server/app/profile/page.js:1:91932)
[02:28:18.138]  ✓ Generating static pages (19/19)
[02:28:18.156] 
[02:28:18.157] > Export encountered errors on following paths:
[02:28:18.157] 	/_not-found/page: /_not-found
[02:28:18.157] 	/community/page: /community
[02:28:18.157] 	/dms/page: /dms
[02:28:18.157] 	/druze-global/page: /druze-global
[02:28:18.157] 	/page: /
[02:28:18.157] 	/profile/page: /profile
[02:28:18.201] Error: Command "npm run build" exited with 1
[02:28:18.634] 

We have removed all document objects from our project

[anshumanb (Anshuman Bhardwaj)]

Hi @druzejama3etna, welcome to the Vercel Community!

Can you please share your public repo or a minimal reproducible example. That will let us all work together from the same code to figure out what’s going wrong.

[druzejama3etna (Jama3etna)]

We found that calling Lottie:
import Lottie from “lottie-react”

Is causing the error.

When we call it as follows:

import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
const Lottie = dynamic(() => import("lottie-react"), { ssr: false });

even though there’s a delay in loading the library.

[anshumanb (Anshuman Bhardwaj)]

Thanks for sharing your solution here @druzejama3etna

There’s another detailed thread on our community:

Build error in Vercel but works fine locally

Hi @kirtannpl, we’re able to find the root cause. Seems caused by the lottie-web package, which is the dependency of lottie-react being installed to the reproduction.Here we found that they call the document.createElement in this helper. And then being used here in ImageLoader, and always initialized in Animation.This will break SSR. Hence, dynamically importing the package solves the issue, see the code changes below: [Dynamically importing lottie-react] Deployed version: https://personal-we…