Server-Side Rendering (SSR) with Next.js

Introduction

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is a powerful feature in Next.js that allows pages to be rendered on the server before being sent to the client. This improves SEO, performance, and initial page load speed. Combining SSR with TypeScript ensures type safety and better developer experience.

What is Server-Side Rendering (SSR)?

In SSR, the HTML is generated on the server for each request and sent to the browser with fully rendered content. This is beneficial for dynamic data that changes frequently, such as user-specific content, real-time updates, or data fetched from APIs.

Setting Up Next.js with TypeScript

To create a Next.js project with TypeScript, use the following command:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript
cd my-app
npm run dev

This sets up a Next.js project with TypeScript configured out of the box.

Implementing SSR in Next.js

To implement SSR in a Next.js page, you need to use the getServerSideProps function. This function runs on the server at request time and passes props to the page component.

Example: Fetching Data with SSR

import { GetServerSideProps } from 'next';

type Props = {
  message: string;
};

const HomePage = ({ message }: Props) => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Server-Side Rendered Page</h1>
      <p>{message}</p>
    </div>
  );
};

export const getServerSideProps: GetServerSideProps = async () => {
  // Simulating a server-side API call
  const message = "Hello, this is server-side rendered content!";
  
  return {
    props: {
      message,
    },
  };
};

export default HomePage;

Explanation

• getServerSideProps runs on each request.
• The function fetches or processes data on the server.
• The data is then passed as props to the HomePage component.
• The client receives pre-rendered HTML with data, improving SEO and performance.

Benefits of SSR

1. SEO Optimization: Since the page is fully rendered on the server, search engines can easily index the content.
2. Faster Initial Load: The client receives a fully rendered page, reducing the time needed for hydration.
3. Better User Experience: Users see content immediately without waiting for client-side JavaScript to fetch and render data.
4. Security: Sensitive API keys or server-side logic remain on the server, reducing exposure to the client.

When to Use SSR?

• Dynamic Content: Pages that rely on frequently updated data (e.g., user dashboards, news feeds).
• SEO-Critical Pages: Landing pages, blogs, and e-commerce product pages.
• Authenticated Pages: Content that depends on user authentication.

SSR vs. Static Generation (SSG) vs. Client-Side Rendering (CSR)

Feature	SSR	SSG	CSR
Rendering Time	Request-time	Build-time	Client-side
Performance	Medium	High	Low
SEO	Excellent	Excellent	Poor
Use Cases	Dynamic pages	Static content	User interactions

Conclusion

Server-Side Rendering in Next.js with TypeScript is a great approach for applications that require dynamic data, better SEO, and improved performance. By using getServerSideProps, developers can fetch and render data on the server before sending it to the client, ensuring an optimized experience. Understanding when to use SSR versus other rendering methods like SSG and CSR helps in making the right architectural decisions for your Next.js application.