Choose the right rendering method to enhance your webpage’s loading speed. Learn the key differences between client-side and server-side rendering to deliver the best user experience.
Faster webpage loading times significantly impact user experience and SEO, and page speed is a crucial factor in Google’s ranking algorithm.
Front-end developers must choose the best rendering approach to ensure fast performance while delivering dynamic content.
The two widely used rendering methods are client-side rendering (CSR) and server-side rendering (SSR).
Since every website has unique needs, understanding the distinctions between CSR and SSR will help you align your rendering strategy with your business objectives.
Google & JavaScript
Google provides extensive documentation on how it processes JavaScript, and Googlers frequently offer insights through various official and unofficial channels.
For instance, in a Search Off The Record podcast, it was revealed that Google renders all pages for Search, including those heavily reliant on JavaScript. This sparked significant discussion on LinkedIn, where key takeaways included:
- Google doesn’t track how resource-intensive it is to render specific pages.
- To ensure content visibility, Google renders all pages, regardless of whether they use JavaScript.
These insights have helped dispel several myths about how Google handles JavaScript and its impact on resource allocation.
Martin Splitt, a Google Developer Advocate, weighed in on LinkedIn, stating:
“We don’t keep track of ‘how expensive was this page for us?’… We know that a substantial part of the web uses JavaScript… It doesn’t matter if a page does or does not use JavaScript, because we can only be reasonably sure to see all content once it’s rendered.”
He also confirmed that while there may be a queue and potential delay between crawling and indexing, JavaScript is not the primary reason for delays or indexing issues.
General JavaScript Best Practices
Before diving into the client-side vs. server-side rendering debate, it’s essential to follow these general best practices to ensure adequate rendering:
- Don’t block JavaScript resources via robots.txt or server rules.
- Avoid render-blocking scripts.
- Refrain from injecting JavaScript directly into the DOM.
Adhering to these guidelines can optimize how your website is rendered and indexed by Google, regardless of whether you choose client-side or server-side rendering.
What Is Client-Side Rendering, and How will It Work?
Client-side rendering (CSR) is a modern approach to rendering websites that gained popularity with the advent of JavaScript libraries, notably Angular and React.js.
In CSR, the rendering occurs in the user’s browser instead of on the server. When a user requesting a webpage, the server sends a minimal HTML document, including JavaScript files, rather than providing a fully populated HTML page. While the initial loading time may be slower, subsequent page loads are quick, as they don’t require fetching a new HTML document for each route.
CSR allows client-rendered sites to manage logic and data retrieval from APIs independently. As a result, each page the user visits is generated dynamically, with the corresponding URL created on the fly.
Here’s how the CSR process works:
- The user enters the desired URL in the address bar.
- A data request is always sent to the server for that URL.
- The server delivers static files (CSS and HTML) to the user’s browser on the first request.
- The browser first downloads the HTML, followed by the JavaScript. These HTML files link to the JavaScript, which begins the loading process and displays loading indicators defined by the developer. At this point, the website is still not visible to the user.
- Once the JavaScript is fully downloaded, the browser dynamically generates content.
- The web content becomes visible as the user navigates and interacts with the site.
This process enhances the user experience by allowing seamless transitions and interactions after the initial load.
Differences Between Client-Side and Server-Side Rendering?
The primary distinction between client-side rendering (CSR) and server-side rendering (SSR) lies in their operation. CSR typically displays an empty page during the initial loading process, while SSR immediately delivers a fully rendered HTML page. This gives SSR a speed advantage, as the browser does not need to process large JavaScript files, allowing content to appear within milliseconds.
SSR enhances SEO by enabling search engines to crawl and index the site easily, as all content is readily visible in the HTML. This clear readability ensures that text is immediately accessible to users and crawlers.
On the other hand, CSR can be a more cost-effective option for website owners. CSR reduces the server load by offloading the rendering process to the client (the user or bot). Additionally, it enables rich interactions, allowing for fast responses after the initial load.
With CSR, fewer HTTP requests are made to the server than SSR, which renders each page from scratch. This results in slower transitions between pages in SSR, especially under high server loads when many users request content simultaneously.
However, CSR has drawbacks, including longer initial loading times, which can negatively impact SEO. Crawlers might not wait for JavaScript content to load, potentially leading to empty pages during the first crawl and index. It’s important to note that CSR typically requires an external library to function effectively.
In summary, while SSR offers immediate content visibility and better SEO, CSR can provide cost savings and improved user interaction, albeit with potential challenges.
When to Use Server-Side Rendering
SSR is the best choice if you want to enhance Google visibility and achieve higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).
SSR is particularly beneficial for e-learning platforms, online marketplaces, and applications with a straightforward user interface with fewer pages and dynamic data. These scenarios capitalize on SSR’s strengths, providing users immediate access to content while improving SEO performance.
When to Use Client-Side Rendering
Client-side rendering (CSR) is typically best suited for dynamic web applications like social networks or online messaging platforms. These applications frequently update information and manage large, dynamic datasets, allowing fast updates that meet user demands. In this context, the emphasis is on delivering a rich user experience, often prioritizing interactivity and responsiveness over SEO considerations.
Which Is Better: Server-Side or Client-Side Rendering?
Choosing the best rendering approach involves considering your SEO needs, how the website functions for users, and how it delivers value. You should also evaluate your project requirements and how your chosen rendering method will impact your SERP position and overall user experience.
Generally, client-side rendering (CSR) is more suitable for dynamic websites, while server-side rendering (SSR) works best for static sites.
Content Refresh Frequency
Websites with highly dynamic content, such as gambling or FOREX sites that update every second, are more likely to benefit from CSR. Sometimes, you might opt for CSR on specific landing pages while using SSR for others, depending on your user acquisition strategy.
SSR excels in scenarios where content requires minimal user interaction, positively affecting accessibility, page load times, SEO, and social media support. Conversely, CSR is cost-effective for web applications and generally easier to build and maintain, improving metrics like First Input Delay (FID).
It’s essential to ensure that meta tags (description, title), canonical URLs, and Hreflang tags are rendered server-side or included in the initial HTML response so crawlers can identify them quickly rather than relying solely on rendered HTML.
Platform Considerations
CSR can be more expensive to maintain, as developers skilled in frameworks like React.js or Node.js typically command higher hourly rates than those working with PHP or WordPress. Additionally, there are fewer ready-made plugins for CSR frameworks than WordPress’s extensive plugin ecosystem.
For those considering a headless WordPress setup, such as using Frontity, you’ll need both React.js and PHP developers, as headless WordPress uses React.js for the front end while still requiring PHP for the back end. Keep in mind that not all WordPress plugins are compatible with headless configurations, which could limit functionality or necessitate custom development.
Website Functionality & Purpose
In some cases, you don’t have to choose exclusively between CSR and SSR, as hybrid solutions are available. Both methods can be implemented within a single website or webpage.
For instance, static pages with product descriptions can be rendered on the server in an online marketplace to ensure search engines easily index them. However, it offers high levels of personalization across various pages. You may need help using SSR for content meant for users, requiring you to define default content for Googlebot, which crawls without cookies and state.
Pages like user accounts don’t need to rank in SERPs, making a CSR approach more advantageous for user experience.
Ultimately, both CSR and SSR are effective rendering strategies, and you should involve your team in making this decision early in the product development process.
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