Client-side Rendering (CSR) vs. Server-side Rendering (SSR)
Blog post from Prismic
When building websites or web applications, choosing between client-side rendering (CSR) and server-side rendering (SSR) is crucial, as it impacts performance, SEO, page load speed, and user experience. CSR, which uses JavaScript to render the UI on the client's browser, is ideal for highly interactive applications like online games and social media platforms, but it can lead to longer initial load times and SEO challenges due to minimal initial HTML content. On the other hand, SSR, which renders the complete HTML page on the server before sending it to the client, offers faster initial loading and better SEO, making it suitable for content-heavy sites like e-commerce platforms and landing pages, though it can increase server load and complexity. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on factors such as the type of application, SEO priorities, development stack, performance requirements, and desired user experience. Understanding these differences is essential for making informed decisions in web development.