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Jan, 2023

Pre-rendering

Pre-rendering is a technique used in web development to generate HTML content for web pages before they are requested by a client (browser). This technique can significantly improve the performance and SEO of a website by providing faster initial page loads and making content readily available to search engines. There are two main types of pre-rendering:

Static Site Generation (SSG): In SSG, the entire website or a subset of pages is pre-rendered at build time. The HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files for each page are generated ahead of time and can be cached on a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for quick access. SSG is suitable for websites with relatively static content, like blogs, marketing sites, or documentation sites. Popular frameworks for SSG include Next.js (React), Nuxt.js (Vue.js), and Gatsby.js (React).

Server-Side Rendering (SSR): In SSR, web pages are rendered on the server for each request, providing dynamically generated HTML content. SSR is suitable for websites with more dynamic content, like e-commerce platforms or web applications. It's often used in conjunction with client-side rendering (CSR) to provide the best of both worlds. Popular frameworks for SSR include Next.js (React) and Angular Universal (Angular).

Key benefits of pre-rendering include: Improved Performance: Pre-rendered pages load faster because the HTML content is ready to be displayed as soon as the page is requested. This reduces the time-to-interactive (TTI) and provides a better user experience.

SEO Friendliness: Search engines can easily crawl and index pre-rendered HTML pages, which can lead to better search engine rankings. SEO meta tags and content are readily available in the HTML.

Reduced Server Load: Pre-rendered pages can be cached and served from a CDN, reducing the load on your web server and ensuring stability during traffic spikes.

Implement API Calls: If your application fetches data from APIs, make sure to do so on the server when rendering pages. You may use methods provided by your framework to fetch data during the server-rendering phase.

Better User Experience: Faster page loads and smoother interactions result in an improved user experience, which can lead to higher user engagement and conversions.

To implement pre-rendering: Choose the appropriate pre-rendering strategy (SSG or SSR) based on your website's requirements. Use a web development framework that supports your chosen strategy (e.g., Next.js for SSG or SSR). Develop your website or application, keeping in mind the specific requirements and data fetching needs for each page. Configure your build process to pre-render the pages during development or when deploying to a production environment. Test your pre-rendered pages thoroughly to ensure they work as expected and provide the desired performance improvements. Monitor your website's performance, SEO rankings, and user experience over time, and make adjustments as needed. Pre-rendering is a powerful technique that can greatly enhance the performance and discoverability of your web content, making it an essential consideration for modern web development.

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Michael Smith, Author

Appreciating the abundance and beauty that surrounds us, even in the simplest moments.

Comments (2)

Sophia Willams

Oct 29, 2023

When we cultivate gratitude, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have, creating a positive perspective that can enhance our overall well-being.

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Gabriel Smith

Oct 29, 2023

Gratitude has the power to foster contentment and reduce stress, reminding us to cherish the present rather than constantly striving for more.

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