Client Side Rendering (CSR) vs Server Side Rendering (SSR)
Subhadeep Mondal
CSR
Client Side Rendering (CSR) means the server sends only a basic page, and the browser uses JavaScript to build the actual content. It’s like giving raw ingredients to the browser and asking it to cook the full dish.
When you build an app with React.js, it sends a basic HTML page to the browser and then loads everything using JavaScript. The content appears after all the JS is downloaded and runs in the browser.
In CSR the HTML is almost empty, like just a shell (
<div id="root"></div>).The content is built later by JavaScript running in the browser.
SSR
Server Side Rendering (SSR) is a method where the webpage is built on the server and then sent to the user's browser. This means when you visit a website, the server already prepares the complete HTML page, and the browser just displays it.
When using Next.js, you can create pages where the HTML is generated on the server (before it reaches the browser). So, when the browser receives the page, the content is already visible — no blank screen.
In SSR the HTML already contains the content (text, images, product details).
It's ready to be shown immediately.
Browser doesn’t need to wait for JavaScript to build the content.
Lets break CSR and SSR in tabular format
| Aspect | CSR (Client Side Rendering) | SSR (Server Side Rendering) | Winner |
| SEO | ❌ Poor – Content loads via JS, not visible to crawlers | ✅ Excellent – Full HTML visible to search engines | SSR |
| First Page Load | ❌ Slower – Blank screen until JS loads | ✅ Faster – Full content sent immediately | SSR |
| Navigation Speed | ✅ Fast – No full reload, smooth transitions | ❌ Slower – Each page reloads via server | CSR |
| User Experience | ✅ Best for interactive apps, like dashboards | ✅ Best for static content pages (e.g., blogs, shop) | Depends on Use Case |
| Developer Flexibility | ✅ Highly flexible for SPAs | ❌ Limited flexibility for very dynamic UIs | CSR |
| Server Load & Cost | ✅ Lightweight – Less server work | ❌ Heavier – Server builds HTML on every request | CSR |
| Complexity to Implement | ✅ Simple (with CRA) | ❌ Slightly complex (requires Next.js or similar) | CSR |
| Best Use Cases | Dashboards, Admin Panels, SPAs | Blogs, Product Pages, News Sites, SEO Pages | Depends |
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