Understanding Server Side Rendering and Client Side Rendering in Next.js

Client Side Rendering

In Next.js, you have the option to choose between server side rendering (SSR) and client side rendering (CSR) based on your application’s needs. Let’s start by exploring client side rendering.

Imagine a scenario where you need to display flight details such as flight number, flight name, capacity, and height. These details are unlikely to change frequently. In such cases, you can opt for client side rendering. With client side rendering, the API call to retrieve the data is made from the client side, and the data is rendered on the UI page.

Why choose client side rendering for this scenario? Since the flight details are static in nature and not expected to change frequently, you can implement this logic using the getStaticProps method. This method executes at build time, pre-rendering the HTML on the server. When a user navigates to the page, the pre-rendered HTML is loaded on the client side, resulting in faster performance.

By utilizing client side rendering, the page loads quickly, providing a seamless user experience.

Server Side Rendering

Now, let’s explore server side rendering with an example. Consider a scenario where you need to display the current latitude and longitude of a flight that is continuously moving from one location to another. In this case, the latitude and longitude data is dynamic and changes frequently.

For scenarios like this, server side rendering is the better choice. With server side rendering, you can use the getServerProps method provided by Next.js. Since the data is dynamic and changes at runtime, this method is executed on the server side instead of at build time.

When a user navigates to the page to view the latitude and longitude, Next.js makes a request to the server to fetch the latest data. The server generates the page with the updated latitude and longitude, which is then rendered on the browser. Each time the user visits the page, the process is repeated to ensure real-time data is displayed.

Server side rendering is ideal for scenarios where the data is constantly changing, providing users with up-to-date information.

Implementing Server Side Rendering and Client Side Rendering in Next.js

To implement server side rendering or client side rendering in Next.js, you need to utilize the appropriate methods: getStaticProps for client side rendering and getServerProps for server side rendering. These methods allow you to fetch the required data and render it accordingly.

By understanding the differences between server side rendering and client side rendering, you can choose the appropriate approach based on your application’s requirements. Whether you need static data that rarely changes or real-time dynamic data, Next.js provides the flexibility to handle both scenarios efficiently.

Remember, server side rendering is best suited for dynamic data that changes frequently, while client side rendering is more suitable for static data that remains consistent over time.

By leveraging the power of Next.js and selecting the appropriate rendering strategy, you can optimize the performance and user experience of your web application.

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