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Rendering in Next.js

Rendering in Next.js

Hillary Nyakundi's photo
Hillary Nyakundi
·

2 min read

Next.js utilizes the hybrid approach of both server-side rendering and client-side rendering. In this blog, I deep dive into the ins and outs of component rendering ,ride with me.

Unearthing SSR vs CSR

A friend told me “That's the building block for Next.js, Caching server-rendered pages/data, the rest is vanilla react.”

Server-Side Rendering (SSR): How it operates:

  1. When a user requests a page, the server:

  • Generates full HTML content

  • Fetches necessary data from databases

  • Compiles complete page with all content

  • Sends fully rendered HTML to browser

  • Browser immediately displays complete page

Key Process:

User Request → Server Processes Request → 
Server Generates Complete HTML → 
Server Sends Full HTML → 
Browser Renders Instantly

Client-Side Rendering (CSR): How it operates:

  1. Server sends minimal HTML + JavaScript bundle

  2. Browser downloads JavaScript

  3. JavaScript framework (React/Vue) renders content

  4. Framework makes API calls

  5. Dynamic content populates after client-side processing

Key Process:

User Request → Server Sends Minimal HTML + JS → 
Browser Downloads JS → 
JavaScript Framework Renders → 
API Calls Made → 
Content Dynamically Populated

Comparison: SSR Advantages:

  • Faster initial page load

  • Better SEO

  • Works without JavaScript

  • Lower client-side processing

Demerits:

  • Higher server computational requirements

  • More complex server infrastructure

  • Slower page transitions

  • Less interactive compared to CSR

CSR Advantages:

  • More interactive after initial load

  • Smoother page transitions

  • Less server load

  • More dynamic user experience

Demerits:

  • Slower initial page load

  • Poor SEO performance

  • Higher JavaScript bundle size

  • Less performant on low-power devices

Real-world Analogy:

  • SSR: Like a fully prepared restaurant meal served instantly

  • CSR: Like a meal kit you assemble yourself after delivery

Which is better? It depends on your specific use case:

  • For content-heavy sites prioritizing SEO and initial load speed: SSR

  • For complex web applications with frequent interactions: CSR

  • For optimal performance: Hybrid approaches like Next.js that combine SSR and CSR

Recommended Hybrid Approach: Modern frameworks like Next.js and Nuxt.js offer:

  • Initial SSR for fast first load

  • Seamless transition to CSR for interactions

  • Best of both rendering strategies

Technical Deep Dive Considerations:

  • Network conditions impact rendering performance

  • Mobile devices prefer lighter rendering approaches

  • Complex applications benefit from hybrid rendering

Next.jsRenderingSSR