The Beauty and Functionality of Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

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Once upon a time in the realm of web development, there lived two siblings: Client-side rendering (CSR) and Server-side rendering (SSR). Both were powerful in their own right, but today, we'll focus on the older and wiser sibling, SSR. It's time to buckle up for a tour through the picturesque world of Server-side rendering.

The SSR Landscape

Let's start by understanding what Server-side rendering is. SSR is a popular technique for rendering a client-side or universal JavaScript application on the server. Here's the thing: When your browser requests a webpage, the server prepares the HTML and CSS, does the required processing, and then sends the fully rendered page back to your browser. This process contrasts with Client-side rendering, where the rendering happens in the user's browser.

The Mechanics of SSR

Picture SSR as a master chef. You place your order (make a request), the chef prepares your meal (renders your page), and then it's served to you ready to devour (sent to your browser). Delicious, isn't it?

Here's a bite-sized code snippet using Node.js and Express.js:

// Using Express.js and EJS for SSR
const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.set("view engine", "ejs");

app.get("/", (req, res) => {
    res.render("index", { message: "Hello, SSR!" });
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log("Server running on port 3000"));

In this example, res.render is our SSR hero. It creates an HTML string on the server, which then gets sent to the client.

The Benefits of SSR

SSR is not just a pretty face. It brings some practical benefits to the table. The rendered HTML from the server allows the page to load and display some content faster. This is a big thumbs-up for users with slower internet speeds or less powerful devices. Plus, search engine bots can crawl the page more effectively, improving SEO.

However, SSR isn't without its challenges. It can be more resource-intensive on the server-side, especially for large apps. The good news is, there's a middle ground - Universal (or Isomorphic) JavaScript applications, which utilize both CSR and SSR. But that's a tale for another time.

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