Server-side rendering (SSR) in Node.js refers to the process of rendering web pages on the server and sending the fully rendered HTML to the client’s browser. This contrasts with client-side rendering, where the browser loads a minimal HTML file and relies on JavaScript to fetch data and render the page dynamically.
With SSR, the server processes the requested URL, fetches any required data from databases or external APIs, and generates the HTML markup for the entire page, including content, styles, and scripts. The server then sends this pre-rendered HTML to the client, which can display the page immediately without waiting for additional data or JavaScript to load.
SSR offers several benefits, including:
- Improved SEO: Search engines can crawl and index server-rendered pages more easily since the content is available in the initial HTML response. This can lead to better search engine rankings and visibility for SSR-based applications.
- Faster Initial Page Load: Since the server sends fully rendered HTML to the client, users can see the content faster, especially on devices with slower network connections or limited processing power.
- Enhanced Performance: SSR reduces the client-side processing overhead, resulting in faster time-to-interactivity and improved perceived performance for users.
Node.js, with its ability to handle server-side logic and render HTML pages dynamically, is well-suited for implementing server-side rendering. Frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt.js, and Angular Universal leverage Node.js to provide SSR capabilities for building web applications with React, Vue.js, and Angular, respectively.
