SSR vs SSG

In the world of web development, choosing the right way to render your web pages can significantly impact performance, SEO, and user experience. Two prominent contenders in this arena are Server-side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generation (SSG). Both techniques offer distinct advantages and disadvantages, making the decision a crucial one for developers. This article delves into the inner workings of SSR and SSG, exploring their strengths and weaknesses to help you pick the optimal solution for your website.

What is Server-side Rendering (SSR)?

In SSR, when a user requests a webpage, the server retrieves all the data required to build the page and then generates the HTML code. This HTML code is then sent to the user's browser, which renders the page.

Benefits of SSR

• SEO friendly: Because search engines can easily crawl and index the content of SSR pages, this technique is considered to be good for SEO.
• Good for complex applications: SSR is a good choice for complex web applications that require a lot of interactivity and user input.

Drawbacks of SSR

• Server load: Because the server has to generate the HTML code for each request, SSR can put a strain on the server, especially for websites with a lot of traffic.
• Slower initial load time: The initial load time for SSR pages can be slower than for SSG pages because the server has to generate the HTML code first.

What is Static Site Generation (SSG)?

With SSG, the HTML code for a webpage is pre-generated at build time. This means that the HTML code is already there and ready to be served when a user requests a webpage.

Benefits of SSG

• Fast loading times: Because the HTML code is already generated, SSG pages can load very quickly.
• Reduced server load: SSG puts less strain on the server than SSR because the server does not have to generate the HTML code for each request.

Drawbacks of SSG

• Not ideal for dynamic content: SSG is not a good choice for webpages that require a lot of dynamic content, such as content that is constantly changing.
• Rebuilds required for updates: If you need to update the content of an SSG page, you will need to rebuild the entire website.

Choosing between SSR and SSG

The best way to choose between SSR and SSG depends on the specific needs of your website. If you have a website with a lot of static content, such as a blog or a portfolio website, then SSG is a good choice. If you have a more complex website that requires a lot of interactivity and user input, then SSR is a better option.

Here's a table summarizing the key differences between SSR and SSG: