Server-side rendering (SSR) is the process of generating HTML on the server and sending it to the client, rather than relying on client-side JavaScript to render the page. To implement SSR, it is important to consider pre-rendering and data fetching.
Pre-rendering is the process of generating HTML for a page before it is requested by the client. Pre-rendering can improve the performance of an SSR application by reducing the time it takes for the server to respond to a request. There are two types of pre-rendering: static pre-rendering and dynamic pre-rendering.
Static pre-rendering is the process of generating HTML for all pages of a website at build time. This can be done using tools like Next.js, Gatsby, or Hugo. Static pre-rendering is fast and efficient, as the HTML for each page is generated in advance and stored on the server, ready to be sent to the client when requested.
Dynamic pre-rendering is the process of generating HTML for a page on the server at request time. This can be done using techniques like server-side rendering or serverless rendering. Dynamic pre-rendering can be slower than static pre-rendering, as the server must generate the HTML for each page separately, but it can be more flexible and can handle dynamic data or content that changes frequently.
Data fetching is the process of retrieving data from an external source, such as a database or API, to be used in the rendering of a page. In an SSR application, data fetching must be done on the server, before the HTML is generated and sent to the client. There are several techniques for data fetching in an SSR application, including:
1. Using server-side APIs: Server-side APIs can be used to retrieve data from a database or other data source on the server, and then use that data to render the page on the server.
2. Data fetching at build time: In a static pre-rendering scenario, data can be fetched at build time and stored with the pre-rendered HTML, ready to be sent to the client when requested.
3. Data fetching at request time: In a dynamic pre-rendering scenario, data can be fetched on the server at request time and used to generate the HTML for the requested page.
Overall, pre-rendering and data fetching are important aspects of building an SSR application. By using pre-rendering and data fetching techniques, developers can improve the performance, flexibility, and user experience of their web applications.