Server Side Rendering Vs Client Side Rendering

Using the right rendering method helps to improve webpage loading times. By understanding the difference between server side rendering vs client side rendering, you can improve your websites for optimal user experience. This article will provide a detailed comparison of the server side rendering (SSR) and client side rendering (CSR), and choosing which one to use.

Importance of Choosing the Right Rendering Method

Webpage loading speed plays an important role in SEO and user experience. In addition to providing users with a great experience, faster loading speeds are a key ranking factor used by Google’s algorithm. Therefore, front-end web developers must choose the best way to render a website to deliver dynamic content and a fast experience. Since each website will have its own unique requirements, the choice between client-side rendering and server side rendering is critical in meeting your business goals.

Server Side Rendering Vs Client Side Rendering: How it Started

Before delving into the differences between server side rendering vs client side rendering, we will briefly look into how it started. Rendering in software development refers to a way of turning the code of an app into an interactive interface, which is then presented on a user’s screen.

At the onset of the internet, all websites were static as there was only one way to display them on users’ monitors. The model assumed that the HTML of a website existed on a server and was only sent to the user’s browser upon request. This is how the server side rendering method works.

With time, however, more websites appeared on the internet. Users now had access to both static and dynamic websites with single-page web applications, multi-page applications, and progressive web apps. These new websites were built with new technologies, such as the JavaScript frontend language. This is how the client-side rendering started.

Server Side Rendering Vs Client Side Rendering: What’s the Difference

Both SSR and CSR serve the same purpose although the algorithms of their operation differ. In server-side rendering method, the code rendering follows these steps:

• A user enters a URL in the browser’s address bar
• A data request is sent to the server at the specified URL
• The server generates an HTML file with the data and styles based on the request
• The server sends the HTML in response to the browser request
• Browser executes the HTML, displaying the page to the user

In client-side rendering, the process starts with the app’s code being sent to the user’s browser for processing to become visible and interactive pages. The process is as follows:

• A user enters a URL in the address bar of their browser
• A data request is sent to the server at the URL
• The server pulls information from a database, generating a response in the requested format
• The server sends the requested data to the client
• The browser displays the page with the data, making the page visible to the user by executing JavaScript code stored on the client side.

Server Side Rendering Vs Client Side Rendering: Use Cases

The choice between server side rendering and client side rendering usually depends on the business goal, customer expectations, and the app’s software requirements specifications. Here are some use cases for each style:

• Server-side Rendering:The main benefit of server-side rendering is SEO-friendliness. This makes it a top choice when building a web application that needs to rank higher in search engine results and get more leads. E-learning websites and online marketplaces can benefit the most from this type of rendering because they have to compete for better positions in Google results for customer onboarding.
• Client-side Rendering: This type of rendering is mainly used for dynamic web apps, such as social networks or online messengers. Since information in such apps is constantly changing, client-side rendering ensures that users are updated as fast as possible. For instance, you can build an application to use inside your company, such as an admin panelor an analytical dashboard for an internal app. In such a case, SEO is not important, and server-side rendering is not important. Client-side rendering would be more useful in such a case.
• Combining SSR and CSR: It can be more beneficial in certain circumstances to combine both SSR and CSR. For instance, in an online ecommerce store, product pages can be rendered on the server because they are static and need to be indexed by search engines. On the other hand, pages that do not need indexing such as those related to user accounts can be rendered with CSR.

Choosing the Right Rendering for Your Application

Choosing the right rendering type for your application is a decision that your team should make during the early stages of product development. The choice may impact the position of your app in search engines and the website’s user experience. At Octopus Tech, we design influential brands and digital experiences that stand out from the crowd. If you are looking for web design, e-commerce development, voice support, or even non-voice support, get in touch with us.