The performance and efficiency of web applications play a crucial role in the success of any online business. Fast, dynamic websites not only attract users but also enhance their experience and improve conversion rates. One technique that significantly contributes to achieving these goals is Server-Side Rendering (SSR). By generating web content on the server, SSR provides numerous advantages for both users and developers.

Server-side rendering refers to the process of rendering both JavaScript and HTML on the server, which is then sent fully to the browser. This approach ensures that content is visible even when JavaScript is disabled, which not only accelerates page load times but also improves search engine indexing. As a result, SSR boosts overall performance and user experience, as well as enhances SEO efforts.

Within the context of Headless CMS, SSR improves both the flexibility and performance of applications, enabling developers to make the most of modern front-end technologies. This article will delve deeper into SSR’s definition and its practical applications.

In SSR, web page generation and processing occur on the server before the completed HTML code is sent to the user’s browser. To better understand SSR’s functionality, let’s walk through the key stages involved, from the moment the browser requests the display of the rendered application.

The technology stack used in SSR incorporates several essential tools and frameworks to enhance both performance and flexibility in web applications. One widely used tool for SSR with Vue.js is Vite, a modern, ultra-fast bundler that dramatically accelerates the building and running processes of applications.

Another key framework is Vike, which offers a clear workflow and a variety of customizable events. It provides developers with control over the behavior of the application on both the client and server sides while featuring its routing system.

This makes it simpler for developers to manage application routing, which is especially crucial for SSR and internationalization needs. Vike integrates seamlessly with Vue.js and Vite, creating a powerful solution for developing modern, high-performance web applications utilizing server-side rendering.

Server-side rendering is particularly valuable when fast page loading and enhanced search engine indexing (SEO) are required. It is highly beneficial for dynamic websites that frequently update content, such as news portals, blogs, social networks, and E-commerce platforms. SSR is also advantageous for applications that involve complex business logic, such as user authentication or personalized content, which is best managed on the server side.

While SSR offers many advantages, it also requires a deep understanding and skill to maximize its effectiveness.

Common elements in SSR projects

Projects utilizing Server-Side Rendering (SSR) often share several common elements that play a crucial role in managing and rendering content. Here are some of the most important ones:

Menu

Menus are a critical component in SSR projects and must be dynamically fetched and rendered. Typically, the server sends a request to the relevant API to retrieve the menu structure, generates the appropriate HTML, and sends it to the browser. This ensures that users always see the correct menu, customized to their language preference and location.

Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs enhance user navigation throughout the site. However, generating breadcrumbs can be challenging since not all APIs offer simple methods for doing so. In some cases, additional queries need to be sent to the API, which can negatively impact server-side generation time. To solve this, it’s beneficial to implement automated scripts that track breadcrumb paths for each page and store them in the cache.

Internationalization

Handling multiple languages is essential in global projects. Special API queries are needed to manage different language versions. Each language might have its URL but lead to the same set of components, requiring the server to process and return content in the appropriate language properly.

The router plays a vital role in internationalization. Different language versions will have different URLs but lead to the same components (e.g., “Contact Us” in English vs. “Kontakt” in German). Router settings must account for this to ensure users are redirected to the correct language version of the site.

API connection methods can vary significantly depending on the content manager used for the project. Whether the CMS uses RestAPI, GraphQL, or text files, the component data structure should remain consistent to maintain the reusability of blocks. This may require adding a translation layer between the CMS API and component API, but the result is a project that can easily migrate to other systems, allowing blocks to be reused across different projects for faster product delivery.

Server-side rendering isn’t always necessary when using a headless approach. SSR is most effective for dynamic content that requires frequent updates. Every time a user visits a page, SSR enables the server to render the latest data, ensuring users see the most current information. This is particularly important for high-traffic websites where users expect real-time data updates.

However, implementing SSR can be complex and may require advanced server resource management. In some cases, Static Site Generation (SSG) may be a more suitable alternative, offering similar benefits but with simpler implementation.

Static Site Generation (SSG) is a method that creates static HTML files for every available URL in a system. This process occurs before deployment, meaning the HTML files are pre-built and ready to be loaded without the need to run a NodeJS server during runtime.

Advantages of SSG

One of the main benefits of SSG is its simplicity. Since it doesn’t require running a NodeJS server, deployment is easier. Additionally, static HTML files load very quickly, which improves user experience and boosts SEO performance. Another advantage is enhanced security—static sites are less prone to attacks since they don’t rely on a dynamic server layer.

Disadvantages of SSG

However, SSG has some limitations. Updating content generally involves regenerating and redeploying all HTML files, which can be time-consuming, especially for large sites. SSG is not well-suited for frequently updated content. In such cases, SSR might be a better alternative. While there are approaches where only selected subpages are regenerated, this can lead to potential data inconsistencies, especially when content relationships are complex. The most reliable method is to regenerate everything.

SSG is ideal for smaller websites with more static content where changes are not frequent, and implementation speed isn’t a critical factor. Ultimately, whether to use SSR or SSG depends on the specific needs, nature of the content, and performance requirements of the project.

Alokai – project based on Contentstack

In the Alokai project, which was developed on the Contentstack platform, we used SSR to enhance page load speed. With just one request per page, all necessary elements are loaded. The response immediately includes the menu structure, footer, and page content, which significantly improves the loading time and user experience.

Salestube – a project based on Storyblok

In the Salestube website project, built using Storyblok, the page loading process required a different approach. While one request per page was used, an additional query was needed to fetch all the required data. Fortunately, Storyblok’s infrastructure is optimized enough and doesn’t require an extra caching layer to maintain satisfactory loading speeds. As a result, we were able to deliver high performance despite the additional data requests.

myERP.pl – a project based on WordPress

For the myERP.pl project, built using WordPress and WPGraphQL, we had to first query the content page, receiving an array of objects with unresolved associations. For instance, if we needed to fetch recommended blog posts, we would get post IDs and then make another request to retrieve the full details of those posts, including images, titles, and descriptions. Additionally, separate requests were required for menus, language settings, and the footer.

Several frameworks and tools offer alternatives to traditional Server-Side Rendering (SSR), or they blend various rendering techniques to optimize performance and user experience. Here are some of the most popular options:

Server-side rendering (SSR) is a highly effective technique for generating web pages that enhances loading speeds, boosts search engine indexing, and improves the overall user experience.

Here are the key points to remember:

Both SSR and SSG provide a wide range of options, enabling the creation of modern, high-performance web applications suited to various project requirements.

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