Understanding and Implementing NoSSR in Next.js: A Comprehensive Guide

Next.js is a popular JavaScript framework for building fast, scalable, and dynamic web applications. One of its key features is Server-Side Rendering (SSR), which allows for faster load times and improved search engine optimization. However, in some cases, SSR can slow down the performance of your application, especially when it comes to data-heavy pages or when you want to use a package that uses browser APIs that are not available on the server. This is where NoSSR comes in, offering a flexible and efficient solution for those who want to take advantage of both server-side and client-side rendering. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into NoSSR in Next.js, exploring what it is, why it's important, and how to implement it in your own applications. I personally have had the experience of wanting to use a package that uses browser APIs which were not available on the server, leading to the app breaking. This is when I realized the importance of NoSSR in Next.js and how it can save developers from these types of headaches.

Prerequisites

To understand NoSSR in web development, the following prerequisites are helpful:

• Familiarity with JavaScript and web development concepts such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks.
• Basic understanding of Next.js: To use NoSSR in Next.js, you should have a basic understanding of how the framework works, including its file structure and core concepts.
• Familiarity with React: Next.js is built on top of React, so you should have a solid understanding of how React works, including its components, state, and props.
• Understanding of Server-Side Rendering (SSR): NoSSR is used in conjunction with SSR, so it's important to have a good understanding of how SSR works in Next.js.
• Knowledge of client-side JavaScript: NoSSR is used to optimize the data processed on the server, so you should have a good understanding of client-side JavaScript and how it can be used to improve performance.
• Experience with Next.js routing: To use NoSSR in Next.js, you should have experience working with Next.js routing and how it can be used to create dynamic pages in your application.
• Basic understanding of the Document Object Model (DOM) and how it relates to rendering web pages.

Having these prerequisites in place will provide a solid foundation for understanding NoSSR and how it can be used to improve the performance and efficiency of web applications.

What is Server Side Rendering (SSR)

Server-side rendering (SSR) is a technique in web development where the server generates and returns the HTML code of a web page in response to a client's request. This allows the client to receive a fully rendered page, instead of having to wait for the JavaScript to run and render the content on the client side.
The main benefits of SSR are improved performance, better search engine optimization (SEO), and a better user experience. With SSR, the server generates and sends a complete HTML document to the client, which can be displayed immediately, providing a fast-loading experience. Additionally, search engines can crawl and index content more easily, improving the visibility and ranking of a website.
In contrast, client-side rendering, which is more commonly used in single-page applications, relies on the client to render the content after the initial HTML document is received from the server. This can lead to longer load times and potential SEO issues, as search engines may not be able to crawl and index the content properly.

What is NoSSR

NoSSR, also known as No Server-Side Rendering, is a feature in Next.js that allows developers to control what parts of their application should be rendered on the server and what parts should be left for the client. The purpose of NoSSR is to optimize the performance of web applications by reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed on the server, making it a more efficient solution for data-heavy pages or when using packages that utilize browser APIs not available on the server. By optimizing the data processed on the server, NoSSR makes it possible to create fast, efficient, and dynamic web applications that strike a balance between server-side and client-side rendering.

Importance of NoSSR and the problem it Solves

NoSSR is important because it solves a common problem faced by many developers: the performance trade-off between server-side rendering (SSR) and client-side rendering. SSR is important for improving the user experience, as it allows for faster load times and better search engine optimization. However, SSR can also slow down the performance of an application, especially when dealing with data-heavy pages or when using packages that utilize browser APIs not available on the server.

NoSSR solves this problem by allowing developers to control what parts of their application should be rendered on the server and what parts should be left for the client. This allows for a more efficient solution for data-heavy pages or when using packages that utilize browser APIs not available on the server. By striking a balance between server-side and client-side rendering, NoSSR makes it possible to build fast, efficient, and dynamic web applications that provide a better user experience and improved search engine optimization.

NoSSR is also important in solving the issue of using packages that utilize browser APIs not available on the server. When using these packages in a server-side rendered environment, the app can break because the browser APIs are not available. With NoSSR, developers can specify that these packages should only be used on the client, avoiding any issues with server-side rendering. This allows for the seamless integration of these packages and a more efficient solution for using them in a Next.js application.

Use cases of NoSSR

NoSSR has a number of common use cases that can help developers improve the performance and functionality of their Next.js applications. Some of the most common use cases include:

• Loading data on the client: When dealing with data-heavy pages, it can be more efficient to load the data on the client, rather than on the server. With NoSSR, developers can specify that data should only be loaded on the client, improving the performance of the application.
• Improving application performance: By reducing the amount of data processed on the server, NoSSR can improve the performance of an application. This is especially important when dealing with complex pages or when using packages that utilize browser APIs not available on the server.
• Using browser APIs not available on the server: As mentioned earlier, when using packages that utilize browser APIs not available on the server, the app can break when running in a server-side rendered environment. NoSSR solves this issue by allowing developers to specify that these packages should only be used on the client.
• Dynamic pages: NoSSR can also be used to improve the performance of dynamic pages, such as those with user-generated content or real-time updates. By reducing the amount of data processed on the server, NoSSR can improve the speed and efficiency of these dynamic pages.

Implementing NoSSR

In this article, we’ll cover three ways of implementing NoSSR in a Next Application.

Next Dynamic Import

next/dynamic is a component in Next.js that enables code splitting and dynamic loading of components. It allows you to load components as needed, rather than including them in the initial bundle, resulting in faster load times and improved performance.
When using next/dynamic, you can wrap the component that you want to dynamically import in the dynamic component. The first argument of the dynamic component is a function that returns the component to be dynamically imported and the second argument is an object with properties to control the behavior of the component. For example, you can set the ssr property to false to indicate that the component should only be executed on the client and not server-side rendered.
Using next/dynamic also allows you to lazy-load components, meaning that they are only loaded when they are actually needed. This can result in improved performance, as the initial bundle size is reduced, and the component is only loaded when it is actually needed.
Here's an example of how to use next/dynamic in Next.js:

import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';

const MyComponent = dynamic(() => import('./MyComponent'), { ssr: false });

function HomePage() {
  return (
    <div>
      <MyComponent />
    </div>
  );
}

export default HomePage;

In this example, the component MyComponent is wrapped in the dynamic component and dynamically imported. The ssr property is set to false, indicating that the component should only be executed on the client. The MyComponent component can then be used in the HomePage component just like any other component.

You can make it easier to use the NoSSR component in your Next.js application by creating a reusable NoSSR wrapper component. This wrapper component can be used to wrap any component that should only be executed on the client and not server-side rendered.

Here's an example of how to create a reusable NoSSR wrapper component using next/dynamic:

import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';

const DynamicComponent = dynamic(
  (props) => import(`./${props.component}`),
  { ssr: false }
);

function NoSSRWrapper(props) {
  return <DynamicComponent component={props.component} />;
}

export default NoSSRWrapper;

By using this reusable NoSSRWrapper component, you can simplify the implementation of NoSSR in your Next.js application and make it easier to manage which components should be server-side rendered and which should not.

Checking if the Window Object is Defined

Another way to determine whether a component should be server-side rendered or not is to check if the window object is defined. The window object is only available in the browser, so if it is not defined, it means that the code is being executed on the server.
Here's an example of how to implement NoSSR by checking if the window object is defined:

import React from 'react';

function MyComponent() {
  if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
    return <div>This component is being server-side rendered.</div>;
  }

  return <div>This component is only executed on the client.</div>;
}

export default MyComponent;

In this example, the MyComponent component checks if the window object is defined using the typeof operator. If the window object is not defined, it means that the code is being executed on the server, and the component returns a message indicating that it is being server-side rendered. If the window object is defined, it means that the code is being executed on the client, and the component returns a different message indicating that it is only executed on the client.
By checking if the window object is defined, you can control whether a component is server-side rendered or not, and you can use this approach to implement NoSSR in your Next.js application.

Using the React-No-SSR Package

Another way to implement NoSSR in a Next.js application is to use the react-no-ssr package. react-no-ssr is a React package that provides an easy and efficient way to implement NoSSR in your application.

To install the react-no-ssr package, you can use npm or yarn:

npm install react-no-ssr

or

yarn add react-no-ssr

After installing the package, here is an example on how to use it.

import React from 'react';
import NoSSR from 'react-no-ssr';

function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <NoSSR>
      <div>This component will not be server-side rendered.</div>
    </NoSSR>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

In this example, the MyComponent component wraps its content with the NoSSR component from the react-no-ssr package. This means that the content inside the NoSSR component will not be server-side rendered.
Using the react-no-ssr package provides a simple and straightforward way to implement NoSSR in your Next.js application. Additionally, react-no-ssr also provides some advanced features, such as the ability to specify a fallback component that will be displayed until the client-side JavaScript is loaded.

Here's an example of how to use the fallback component feature:

import React from 'react';
import NoSSR from 'react-no-ssr';

function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <NoSSR fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
      <div>This component will not be server-side rendered.</div>
    </NoSSR>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

In this example, the MyComponent component wraps its content with the NoSSR component from the react-no-ssr package, and specifies a fallback component using the fallback prop. The fallback component will be displayed on the server-side until the client-side JavaScript is loaded and the content inside the NoSSR component is ready to be rendered.
This feature can be useful if you want to provide a loading indicator or a placeholder for your component until it's ready to be displayed. It can also help improve the user experience by reducing the amount of time the user has to wait for content to be displayed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NoSSR is a powerful feature in Next.js that allows you to opt out of server-side rendering for specific components in your application. It can be useful in a variety of situations, such as when you want to improve the performance of your application, load data on the client, or use browser APIs that are not available on the server side.
There are several ways to implement NoSSR in Next.js, including by checking if the window object is defined, using the react-no-ssr package, or creating a reusable NoSSR wrapper component with next/dynamic.
The react-no-ssr package provides additional advanced features, such as the ability to specify a fallback component that will be displayed until the client-side JavaScript is loaded.
NoSSR is a flexible and powerful tool that can help you create fast, dynamic, and optimized Next.js applications. Whether you're just getting started with Next.js or are a seasoned developer, understanding how to implement NoSSR is a key skill that can help you take your Next.js application to the next level.

Here are some useful resources for learning more about NoSSR in Next.js:

• React No SSR Package: https://github.com/kadirahq/react-no-ssr
• Next.js Dynamic Imports: https://nextjs.org/docs/advanced-features/dynamic-import
• Understanding the JS Window Object: https://www.sitepoint.com/javascript-window-object/

These resources will give you a deeper understanding of NoSSR, as well as how it fits into the larger context of building applications with Next.js. Happy learning!