How NextJS REALLY Works

Theo - t3․gg28 minutes read

Next.js is a server-rendered framework for React, generating correct HTML on the server for users to receive actual content initially, optimizing performance and user experience with features like server-side props and selective rendering. Considerations for server rendering include limitations on certain client-side functionalities like accessing user devices or real-time updates, emphasizing the importance of proper data synchronization for an enhanced user experience.

Insights

  • Next.js differentiates itself by rendering React on the server, ensuring users receive actual content initially, unlike traditional methods that rely on client-side generation.
  • Server-side props data inclusion in Next.js HTML facilitates proper hydration, optimizing performance and synchronization between client and server for an enhanced user experience.

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Recent questions

  • What is the difference between Next.js and traditional React methods?

    Next.js renders React on the server, providing users with actual content initially, unlike traditional methods that send empty HTML and generate content on the client side.

  • How does Next.js handle server-side props data for client-side rendering?

    Next.js includes server-side props data in the HTML, allowing for proper hydration and synchronization between the client and server, ensuring dynamic updates.

  • What is the significance of selective server rendering in Next.js?

    Selective server rendering in Next.js optimizes performance by generating static HTML at build time, enhancing user experience and SEO.

  • What functionalities are limited by server-side rendering in Next.js?

    Functionalities like user device access, media queries, and real-time page updates are restricted by server-side rendering in Next.js.

  • How does Next.js enhance user experience through accurate content loading?

    Next.js focuses on generating correct HTML initially, ensuring users receive accurate content, optimizing performance and user experience.

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Summary

00:00

Next.js: Server-rendered React for optimal performance

  • Next.js renders React on the server, differentiating it from traditional methods like Create React App or single-page app deployments.
  • Next.js is a server-rendered framework for React, ensuring the user receives a page with actual content.
  • Traditional methods involve the server sending empty HTML, with content generated on the client side using JavaScript.
  • In Next.js, the server generates correct HTML based on React code, ensuring the user receives the correct content initially.
  • The process involves the user receiving HTML, loading JavaScript, fetching data, and finally rendering the complete page.
  • Hydration in Next.js involves synchronizing the client with the server-rendered HTML, allowing for dynamic updates.
  • Next.js includes server-side props data in the HTML for client-side rendering to synchronize with the server.
  • The inclusion of server-side props data in the HTML allows for proper hydration and synchronization between client and server.
  • Next.js allows for selective server rendering, optimizing performance and user experience by generating static HTML at build time.
  • Static assets in Next.js enhance performance, SEO, and user experience by reducing the need for server code on every request.

15:22

Optimizing Server-Side Rendering for User Experience

  • Consider how your servers render HTML content for users, ensuring awareness of the process and its outcomes.
  • Not all code can run on servers, such as functions calling "window" directly, as servers lack the "window" primitive.
  • Functions like accessing user AV devices or local storage cannot be executed on servers, as these resources are client-side.
  • To include functionalities like local storage, ensure they are part of the server request to provide the necessary data.
  • Cookies play a crucial role in server-side rendering, as they can be included in the initial request to render content accurately.
  • Stateful code, like "on click" or "set State," needs to be managed by synchronizing with a database or avoiding server-side execution.
  • Code that isn't present before useEffect or actions start running won't be available during server rendering.
  • User device access, media queries, and real-time page updates are examples of functionalities limited by server-side rendering.
  • Next.js and similar frameworks focus on generating correct HTML initially, enhancing the user experience by ensuring accurate content loading.
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