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What is client side rendering? What is server side rendering? How do they differ? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you’re not alone. A lot of people are confused about the differences between client side and server side rendering. In fact, a lot of people don’t even know what those terms mean.
But that’s about to change. In this post, we will explore the differences between client side and server side rendering, and we will also discuss how they impact your website’s SEO. We will start with a basic definition of each term, and then we will explain the benefits and drawbacks of both options. Let’s get started!
What is client side rendering?
Client side rendering, also known as CSR, is a type of rendering that takes place on the client’s computer. In other words, it is the process of displaying content on a web page that is created and stored on the user’s computer.
There are several benefits to using CSR. First, it can be used to create dynamic content that changes based on user interactions. Second, since the content is rendered on the client’s computer, it can be done without making additional requests to the server. This can improve performance and reduce latency.
However, there are also some drawbacks to using CSR. One major drawback is that it can be difficult to cache or pre-render content that is rendered on the client’s computer. This can impact the performance of your website, especially if you have a lot of users who are accessing your site from different locations.
Another drawback to CSR is that it can be difficult to troubleshoot issues that occur on the client’s computer. This is because you will not have access to the user’s computer, which makes it difficult to replicate the issue and find a solution.
What is server side rendering?
Server side rendering, also known as SSR, is a type of rendering that takes place on the server. In other words, it is the process of displaying content on a web page that is created and stored on the server.
There are several benefits to using SSR. First, it can improve the performance of your website by reducing the amount of data that needs to be transferred from the server to the client. Second, since the content is rendered on the server, it can be cached or pre-rendered, which can further improve performance.
However, there are also some drawbacks to using SSR. One major drawback is that it can be more complex to set up and configure than CSR. This is because you need to have access to a server in order to render the content. Additionally, if you have a lot of users who are accessing your site from different locations, you will need to make sure that your server has enough resources to handle the load.
Another drawback to SSR is that it can be difficult to troubleshoot issues that occur on the server. This is because you will need to have access to the server in order to replicate the issue and find a solution.
How do they differ?
Now that we’ve explored the basics of CSR and SSR, let’s take a closer look at how they differ. The main difference between CSR and SSR is where the content is rendered. With CSR, the content is rendered on the client’s computer, while with SSR, the content is rendered on the server.
There are several implications of this difference. First, as we mentioned earlier, CSR can be used to create dynamic content that changes based on user interactions. This is because the content is stored on the client’s computer, which means that it can be updated in real-time.
Second, since the content is rendered on the server with SSR, it can be cached or pre-rendered. This can improve the performance of your website, as the content will be available immediately to users who visit your site.
Third, troubleshooting issues can be more difficult with CSR than with SSR. This is because you will not have access to the user’s computer if something goes wrong. With SSR, however, you will have access to the server, which makes it easier to replicate the issue and find a solution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, CSR and SSR are two different ways of rendering content on a web page. CSR is the process of displaying content that is created and stored on the user’s computer, while SSR is the process of displaying content that is created and stored on the server. There are several benefits and drawbacks to each approach, and the best approach for your website will depend on your specific needs and requirements.
Jamie Fallon is an SEO expert who lives life to the maximum, redlining every day on a rollercoaster straight to the grave.
In an SEO career of almost ten years, he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s not impressed: from white text on a white background to today, when you can have robots paint or write for you like some kind of sick science fiction come true.
No matter what life throws at him, Jamie always manages to come out on top. He’s an expert at seeing the silver lining in every cloud and making the best of every situation. His positive attitude and unshakable faith in himself have seen him through tough times. For some people, success goes to their heads; but Jamie never forgets what got him to wherever he thinks he is.
When he’s not busy gaming the system, you can find him writing angry thinkpieces on how Google is ruining everything good about the internet, or hanging out with his wife (pictured).
