Next.js is a framework that can server-side render HTML and send it back to the client in its entirety. The client side, also known as the front end, refers to the part of a web application that runs on the user's device, typically within a web browser. It includes everything the user interacts with directly, from the web page layout to the client-side scripting that enhances interactivity. On the other hand, the server side, or the backend, involves all the processes on the web server, away from the user's eyes. Server-side processes handle tasks like retrieving data from databases, performing server-side scripting, and managing user-specific data.

Client-side rendering

First, let’s talk about what happens when you use client-side rendering on your application. When you create React apps using only React or the CLI command create-react-app, you are building an application that has a basic HTML file that calls one or more JavaScript files. That JavaScript creates and loads all of your HTML into the site by injecting it into the document object model dynamically. This all happens on the client side.

Client does the processing

It is important to note that the client CPU does all the processing of the JavaScript when applications are using client-side rendering. Typically, this will not be too intense, and most computers should be able to handle it. The site should load pretty fast. In some cases, like on old or cheap computers with slow processors, you would see that having the client handle the processing is not ideal.

Client makes requests for API data

While your site is being dynamically created by JavaScript, it can also be getting data from databases asynchronously through an API. Usually, your site will load the dynamic HTML, and then you will see it populate with information from the database. It takes longer for a client to make a request and get a response from an API than a server.

Our Experts Experience with Client-Side Rendering

As per our expert Pruthvi Darji experience working with React, CSR can feel incredibly responsive once everything is loaded. For example, when building Single Page Applications (SPAs), users appreciate the smooth navigation without page reloads. However, I have also encountered performance challenges when handling large datasets or complex UI elements especially when testing on older devices. The processing load on the client side can sometimes slow down the experience, causing users to see a delay before the content fully renders.

The Advantages Of Client-Side Rendering

1. Interactive user experience: CSR allows for highly interactive and dynamic web applications, as rendering and data fetching happen on the client-side. This approach provides a smoother user experience, especially for applications with frequent content updates.
2. Efficient subsequent page loads: Once the initial JavaScript bundle is loaded, subsequent navigation and page transitions are often faster since only data needs to be fetched from the server, rather than the entire HTML markup.
3. Development flexibility: Client-side rendering frameworks, such as React or Angular, offer rich toolsets for building complex UI components and managing application state.
   

Limitations of Client-side Rendering

1. SEO challenges: Search engine crawlers struggle to interpret JavaScript-heavy applications, potentially impacting search engine rankings if not handled properly.
2. Dependency on JavaScript: Remember the most of the process is happening on the users browser. Users must have JavaScript enabled in their browsers for the application to function properly.
3. Slower initial page load: And this process requires downloading and executing JavaScript code on the client-side, which can lead to slower perceived page load times, especially on low-powered devices or slow network connections.

Speed

Overall, client-side rendering is fast. There are factors that can affect the speed, such as the speed in which an API will respond to you, how fast your hosting provider sends a response, your internet speed, and your CPU processing power.

Server-side rendering

When applications are using server-side rendering, the client receives a full HTML document. The server will access all the required data and run the JavaScript. It creates the page and sends it in its entirety back to the client.

Server does the initial processing

The server will access APIs, loop through the data, and anything else you want it to do. One benefit you get with this is that servers are extremely fast. It can do this work much faster than a client’s computer. They also have a better connection to the internet, which helps the speed in which APIs can reply much faster.

Additional processing can be done on the server

This is really important as well. What if you get an entire document back from the server but then need your app to make an additional call to an API to get data? You can do this with Next.js. You are not forced to render everything on the server. You will still be able to make asynchronous requests to APIs and update the document without a page refresh.

Our Expert Thoughts on Server-Side Rendering

One thing Our Experts Pruthvi Darji have noticed with SSR, especially when working with Next.js, is the improvement in page load times. The user perceives the page as faster because the content is immediately visible. However, from a developer’s perspective, setting up SSR can be more complex compared to CSR. You also need to balance server load since everything runs on the server initially, which could increase response times if not optimized properly.

The Advantages Of Server-Side Rendering

Initial page load

Since the client’s browser receives the HTML content without rendering a new one, the initial speed of the page loading becomes faster.

SEO-friendly

You might think that SEO is not as important as it was a decade ago. But it’s still vital for specific projects such as e-commerce applications. When search engine crawlers make request to your pages, they can easily parse the server-rendered HTML.

Robustness

SSR provides a fallback for users with JavaScript-disabled browsers or slow connections, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience.

Limitations of Server-side Rendering

Increased server load

Generating HTML on the server can be resource-intensive, potentially impacting server scalability and performance. The more visitors and page requests you get, the more server load you will have.

Limited interactivity

‍With SSR, most of the user interactions require additional round trips to the server, resulting in slower subsequent page loads.

Development complexity

‍Implementing SSR may require additional setup and configuration, as well as careful handling of server-side state management. But fortunately all popular Javascript libraries and frameworks provide different sub-frameworks to create server side applications easily.

Speed

Servers can process JavaScript and create documents faster than a client. The main difference is that you will see the browser waiting for a response from the server a little longer with server-side rendering, since all the work is done on the server. Once the response comes, the site loads instantly and all at once. This still takes less time than the often speedier initial response when using client-side rendering. When you handle it this way, things start loading on the page asynchronously and take a second or two to fully complete.

Our Expert Thought on Speed and Performance

When it comes to Client-Side Rendering vs Server-Side Rendering, speed and performance are key considerations. From my personal experience, CSR is fast for applications that require constant interaction and real-time updates, but it can be a bottleneck on slower devices. On the other hand, SSR offers better initial load times and is great for content-heavy sites, but you might have to trade off some flexibility.

Looking to optimize your web application's performance with efficient rendering solutions? Whether you need server-side or client-side rendering expertise, our team at Zignuts can help. Hire skilled React developers to implement the best practices for your project, ensuring seamless performance and user experience. Get in touch with us today!