Server Side Rendering (SSR) in Next.js to enhance performance and SEO.

Hi everybody!
In this article, I'm going to explain you what is server-side rendering (SSR) in Next.js.

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) in Next.js: Enhancing Performance and SEO

In the realm of web development, delivering a seamless user experience is paramount. Next.js, a popular React framework, empowers developers to create dynamic web applications that excel in both performance and search engine optimization (SEO) through the power of SSR.

What is Server-Side Rendering (SSR)?

SSR is a technique where the server generates the initial HTML content of a web page, including data, on the server in response to a client's request. This pre-rendered HTML is then sent to the browser, allowing for a faster initial page load and improved SEO.

Benefits of SSR in Next.js:

• Enhanced SEO: Search engines can readily index and understand the content of your pages because the HTML is fully rendered on the server, making your application more discoverable in search results.
• Faster Initial Load: Users perceive a quicker initial load time as the browser receives a complete HTML document, eliminating the wait for JavaScript to download and execute.
• Improved User Experience: Faster rendering translates to a more responsive and engaging user experience, especially for users on slower internet connections.
• Accessibility: SSR ensures that your application's content is readily available to users who may have JavaScript disabled in their browsers.

Implementing SSR in Next.js:

Next.js provides two primary methods for implementing SSR:

• getServerSideProps: This asynchronous function is executed on the server for each request. It's ideal for fetching data that is specific to a request or user, such as personalized content or user authentication. The data fetched is then passed as props to the page component, allowing it to be rendered with the retrieved data.
• getStaticProps: This function is also asynchronous, but it's executed at build time. It's well-suited for fetching data that is relatively static and doesn't require frequent updates, such as blog posts or product information. The data fetched is then pre-rendered into the HTML, resulting in exceptional performance for those pages.

Choosing the Right Method:

The choice between getServerSideProps and getStaticProps depends on the nature of your content:

• Use getServerSideProps for dynamic content that varies on a per-request basis, such as user-specific data or personalized recommendations.
• Use getStaticProps for content that is relatively static and doesn't require frequent updates, as it offers the best performance for those pages.

Additional Considerations:

• Data Fetching: Next.js integrates seamlessly with various data fetching libraries like fetch or third-party APIs, making it easy to retrieve data for SSR.
• Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR): Next.js 10 introduced ISR, which allows you to partially re-generate static pages at specific intervals or upon request, providing a balance between static content and dynamic updates.

Conclusion

SSR in Next.js is a powerful tool for building high-performance, SEO-friendly web applications. By understanding its benefits, implementation options, and how to choose the right method, you can create exceptional user experiences and enhance your application's discoverability in search engines.