SSR

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is a rendering approach in which a web page is generated on the server as a complete HTML document and sent to the client. This contrasts with client-side rendering, where the browser executes JavaScript to render content after receiving minimal HTML.

In a typical SSR workflow, a user requests a page; the server runs the application code, fetches data from databases or APIs, renders the user interface to HTML, and transmits the markup to the client. The browser loads the HTML and often executes a JavaScript bundle to hydrate the page, enabling interactivity without a full page reload. Some systems also support streaming or incremental rendering to send parts of the HTML as soon as they are ready.

Benefits of SSR include faster time-to-content for the initial view, improved search engine optimization and social sharing since crawlers receive fully formed HTML, and more predictable rendering for users with limited client capabilities. SSR can also help with accessibility by providing meaningful markup earlier in the loading process.

Trade-offs involve higher server workload per request and potentially longer per-request latency, especially under heavy traffic. Deployments may require caching strategies, load balancing, and careful data-fetching patterns to maintain performance. SSR can also introduce complexity in state management and build processes, though many modern frameworks provide abstractions to mitigate these challenges.

Frameworks and platforms that support SSR include Next.js (React), Nuxt.js (Vue), SvelteKit (Svelte), Remix, and Angular Universal. SSR is often used for pages with dynamic data, SEO-sensitive content, or situations where fast initial render is prioritized.