CSR (Client-Side Rendering) renders pages in the browser, while SSR (Server-Side Rendering) generates pages on the server.
Rendering is the process of turning code into the visual webpage users see. Where this happens - browser (client) or server - significantly affects performance, SEO, and user experience.
The server sends minimal HTML and JavaScript. The browser downloads JavaScript, executes it, and builds the page.
How it works:
Pros: After initial load, navigation is instant. The app feels smooth and responsive, like a native application.
Cons: Slow initial load (download + execute JavaScript). Poor SEO (search engines see empty HTML initially). Users on slow networks wait longer.
Best for: Web apps where users stay logged in (dashboards, admin panels, productivity tools). Think Gmail, Notion, Figma.
The server builds the complete HTML page and sends it ready to display. The browser shows it immediately.
How it works:
Pros: Fast initial load. Users see content immediately. Great for SEO - search engines see full content.
No related topics found.
Cons: Each navigation requires a server request. Can feel less smooth than CSR. Server does more work.
Best for: Content websites (blogs, news, e-commerce product pages). Think Medium, news sites, marketing pages.
React Apps (default): Client-side rendered. Fast after initial load, but initial load can be slow.
Next.js: Hybrid approach. Pages can be server-rendered for speed/SEO or client-rendered for interactivity. Best of both worlds.
WordPress/Traditional Sites: Server-rendered. Every page load hits the server.
Modern frameworks blur the lines. Next.js renders pages on the server for first load (fast, SEO-friendly), then behaves like a client-rendered app for navigation (smooth, app-like).
This hybrid approach is becoming standard for new projects.
Use SSR when:
Use CSR when:
Use Hybrid when:
A slow initial load loses users. Studies show 53% of mobile users abandon sites taking over 3 seconds to load. SSR helps with this.
But clunky navigation frustrates users. CSR provides smooth transitions after loading.
The ideal is fast initial load (SSR) + smooth navigation (CSR). Modern frameworks make this achievable.
The industry is moving toward hybrid rendering. Pure CSR is falling out of favor for public-facing websites due to SEO and performance concerns.
Understanding both approaches helps you choose the right tool and optimize your applications effectively.
