SSR vs Static Generation in Next.js

What is SSR?

Server-Side Rendering means rendering a web page on the server for each request. This is beneficial for pages that need up-to-date content on every request.

How to Implement SSR in Next.js

To implement SSR, use the `getServerSideProps` function in your page component:

import React from 'react';

export async function getServerSideProps() {
    const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
    const data = await res.json();

    return { props: { data } };
}

const Page = ({ data }) => {
    return 
{JSON.stringify(data)}
;
};

export default Page;
                

What is Static Generation?

Static Generation generates HTML at build time. This is ideal for pages that do not change often and can be served directly from a CDN.

How to Implement Static Generation in Next.js

To implement Static Generation, use the `getStaticProps` function:

import React from 'react';

export async function getStaticProps() {
    const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
    const data = await res.json();

    return { props: { data } };
}

const Page = ({ data }) => {
    return 
{JSON.stringify(data)}
;
};

export default Page;
                

SSR vs Static Generation

• Performance: SSR can be slower as it renders pages on each request, while Static Generation serves pre-rendered pages instantly.
• Freshness of Data: SSR always fetches the latest data, whereas Static Generation provides the data as it was at build time.
• Use Cases: SSR is best for dynamic content, while Static Generation is suitable for blogs, documentation, and landing pages.

When to Use Each?

• Use SSR when the page content changes frequently and needs to be up-to-date.
• Use Static Generation for content that doesn't change often to maximize performance.
• Combine both strategies where necessary for optimal performance and user experience.