Server-Side Rendering in Next.js: What You Need to Know to Get Started

By | June 12, 2026
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Server-Side Rendering in Next.js: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Next.js is a popular React-based framework for building server-side rendered (SSR) and statically generated websites and applications. One of the key features that sets Next.js apart from other frameworks is its built-in support for server-side rendering. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what server-side rendering is, how it works in Next.js, and what you need to know to get started.

What is Server-Side Rendering?

Server-side rendering (SSR) is a technique where the server generates the HTML of a web page on each request, rather than the client’s web browser. This approach has several benefits, including improved SEO, faster page loads, and better user experience.

In a traditional client-side rendering (CSR) approach, the browser receives a basic HTML template from the server, and then uses JavaScript to render the content. This can lead to a delay in page rendering, as the browser needs to execute the JavaScript code before displaying the content.

With SSR, the server generates the HTML of the page on each request, and sends it to the browser. The browser can then display the content immediately, without waiting for the JavaScript code to execute. This approach also allows search engines to crawl and index the content more easily, as the HTML is generated on the server.

How Does Server-Side Rendering Work in Next.js?

In Next.js, server-side rendering is enabled by default. When a user requests a page, the Next.js server generates the HTML of the page on the fly, using the React components and data defined in the page’s code.

Here’s a high-level overview of how SSR works in Next.js:

  1. Request: The user requests a page by visiting the URL in their browser.

  2. Server: The Next.js server receives the request and checks if the page has a corresponding React component.

  3. Component rendering: The server renders the React component, passing in any required data and props.

  4. HTML generation: The server generates the HTML of the page, using the rendered React component.

  5. Response: The server sends the HTML of the page to the browser.

Getting Started with Server-Side Rendering in Next.js

To get started with server-side rendering in Next.js, you don’t need to do much. Next.js enables SSR by default, so you can start building your application right away.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when working with SSR in Next.js:

  • Pages: In Next.js, pages are the basic building blocks of an application. Each page is a React component that exports a function, which returns the HTML of the page.

  • getServerSideProps: To enable SSR for a page, you need to export a getServerSideProps function from the page component. This function is called by the server on each request, and returns the props that should be passed to the page component.

  • Data fetching: When using SSR, you need to fetch data on the server, rather than on the client. Next.js provides several APIs for fetching data on the server, including getServerSideProps and getStaticProps.

Here’s an example of a simple page component that uses SSR:
jsx
import { GetServerSideProps } from ‘next’;

const HomePage = ({ data }) => {
return

Hello World! {data}

;
};

export const getServerSideProps: GetServerSideProps = async () => {
const data = await fetchDataFromApi();
return { props: { data } };
};

export default HomePage;

In this example, the getServerSideProps function is called by the server on each request, and fetches data from an API. The data is then passed to the HomePage component as a prop.

Conclusion

Server-side rendering is a powerful feature in Next.js that can improve the performance and SEO of your application. By understanding how SSR works in Next.js, and following the best practices outlined in this article, you can build fast, scalable, and search engine-friendly applications with ease.

Whether you’re building a simple website or a complex application, Next.js provides a flexible and powerful framework for building server-side rendered applications. With its built-in support for SSR, Next.js makes it easy to get started with server-side rendering, and provides a range of tools and APIs for building high-performance applications.