🧠 CSR vs SSR vs SSG in Next.js – Understand Once, Use Forever!

Abhishek MehtaAbhishek Mehta
2 min read

Ever wondered why Next.js has so many ways to render a page? 🤯

Let me break down CSR, SSR, and SSG with a twist — so you never forget which one to use 💡👇

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🧠 1. CSR (Client-Side Rendering)

✨ Magic: The browser says, “I got this!”

⏳ Page loads first, data comes later.

📦 Use When:

User clicks, types, navigates a lot

You don’t need SEO

It’s okay if it shows a loading spinner

🖥️ Example:

Dashboards, Settings Panel, Anything after login

💬 Real Life:

Like ordering pizza 🍕 and building it live in front of you.

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🌍 2. SSR (Server-Side Rendering)

✨ Magic: The server says, “Wait! Let me prepare the whole dish 🍲.”

🧾 Each time someone visits, the server builds the page.

📦 Use When:

Data changes every time (e.g., user order, stock info)

You want it fresh and SEO-friendly

🖥️ Example:

News feeds, Dynamic product pages, Order status

💬 Real Life:

Like ordering from a restaurant — they freshly cook it every time you order.

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🚀 3. SSG (Static Site Generation)

✨ Magic: “Build once, serve forever!”

⚡ Built at build time — blazing fast for all users.

📦 Use When:

Content rarely changes

No need to fetch live data

You want top performance & SEO

🖥️ Example:

Blogs, About Us, Docs

💬 Real Life:

Like packaged snacks 🧃 — made earlier and ready instantly.

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🧾 TL;DR Table

⚙️ Type 🕒 When it works best 📍Examples

CSR User-triggered data Dashboards, Admin panels

SSR Server-driven content News, Orders

SSG Static content Blogs, About page

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🎯 Final Thought:

Choosing the right rendering strategy in Next.js is like choosing the best kitchen setup for your restaurant 🍽️

Want speed? Go with SSG.

Need freshness? Call in SSR.

Want to let users run the show? Use CSR.

If you found this helpful, drop a ❤️ or share it with your dev friends!

#Nextjs #WebDevTips #FrontendMagic #React #MERNStack #JavaScript #AbhishekMehtaCodes

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Abhishek Mehta
Abhishek Mehta