What is server-side rendering?
Server-side rendering (SSR) is a technique used in web development where the content of a web page is generated on the server before being sent to the client’s browser. This is distinct from client-side rendering, where the content is rendered in the browser using JavaScript.
Frontend Devs
SSR is particularly relevant for your work as a front-end engineer, especially when dealing with frameworks and libraries that can operate on both server and client sides. Here’s a breakdown of how it works and its benefits:
How Server-Side Rendering Works
- Request Made: When a user requests a webpage, the request is sent to the server.
- Server Processing: The server processes the request, runs the necessary back-end logic, and renders the HTML content of the page.
- HTML Response: The server sends the fully rendered HTML to the client.
- Browser Display: The client’s browser receives the HTML and displays the page. JavaScript may then be used to add interactivity to the page.
Benefits of Server-Side Rendering
- Faster Initial Load: Users see the content faster because the browser doesn’t need to download, parse, and execute JavaScript before rendering the page content.
- SEO Friendly: Since the content is rendered before it reaches the browser, search engine crawlers can index it more effectively, improving SEO.
- Consistent Performance: SSR can offer more consistent performance across different devices, especially where client-side resources are limited.
- No JavaScript Requirement: Users with JavaScript disabled can still view the content.
Considerations
- Server Load: SSR can put more load on the server, as it needs to render pages for each request.
- Development Complexity: Building an SSR application can be more complex, particularly when integrating with APIs and handling dynamic content.
- User Interactivity: For pages that require heavy user interactions, client-side rendering might still be needed to make the page dynamic after the initial load.
Technologies Supporting SSR
- Node.js: Often used for SSR with JavaScript, allowing you to use the same language on both server and client sides.
- Frameworks and Libraries: Frameworks like Next.js (for React), Nuxt.js (for Vue), and Angular Universal offer built-in SSR capabilities, simplifying the process of setting up SSR for your applications.
Conclusion
Integrating SSR into your web development projects can significantly improve the performance and SEO of the websites you build, especially for content-heavy sites.
Learn more
Server Side Rendering in JavaScript – SSR vs CSR Explained on freecodecamp.org: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/server-side-rendering-javascript/