Server-side rendering with React JS: Benefits and how-to

 Server-side rendering (SSR) is the process of rendering a React JS application on the server, delivering a fully rendered page to the client. In this article, we will explore the benefits of SSR and how to implement it in a React JS application.

Benefits of Server-Side Rendering:

Improved SEO: Search engines can crawl and index the fully rendered page, leading to better search engine optimization (SEO).

Faster page load times: SSR delivers a fully rendered page to the client, reducing the time required to load the page and improving user experience.

Accessibility: SSR can help improve accessibility for users with disabilities, as it delivers a fully rendered page to the client, reducing the need for client-side rendering.

How to Implement Server-Side Rendering in a React JS Application:

To implement SSR in a React JS application, follow these steps:

Set up a server: You can use a Node.js server or any other server-side technology to render the React application on the server.

Create a server-side rendering function: This function should use React's renderToString method to render the React components into HTML.

Configure your server to serve the fully rendered page: You need to configure your server to serve the fully rendered HTML page to the client, instead of serving just the JavaScript bundle.

Handle client-side hydration: Once the fully rendered HTML page is delivered to the client, React will take over and hydrate the page with client-side JavaScript.

Optimize for performance: Server-side rendering can be resource-intensive, so it's essential to optimize your application's performance. Consider using caching and optimizing your server-side rendering function for better performance.

Conclusion:

Server-side rendering is a powerful tool for improving the performance and accessibility of React JS applications. By following the steps above, you can implement SSR in your application and take advantage of the benefits it provides, such as improved SEO and faster page load times. However, it's important to note that SSR is not always necessary for every application and should be used judiciously based on your application's specific needs.