Server-Side vs Client-Side Rendering: What Google Recommends
By: Zulekha Nishad | Updated On: January 9, 2025
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When it comes to building a successful website, the stakes are high. Performance, user experience, and search visibility are critical—and at the heart of it all lies a technical decision that can make or break your website: rendering.
Martin Splitt took to the Search Central stage to explain website rendering strategies in a concise yet insightful talk.
His breakdown of rendering strategies—pre-rendering, server-side rendering (SSR), and client-side rendering (CSR)—provides a roadmap for website owners seeking clarity.
From Static to Dynamic: How Rendering Has Evolved
Rendering is what transforms data into the web pages we see and interact with. Whether it’s pulling content into a blog post template or dynamically loading user-specific data, rendering defines how users experience a site.
Splitt traces the evolution of rendering from the earliest days of static HTML files to today’s dynamic and hybrid setups. Back then, pre-rendering was the default, creating pages in advance and serving them as-is to users.
But as the web grew more interactive, server-side rendering became the norm, generating pages dynamically based on user requests.
Today, client-side rendering takes this one step further, enabling app-like interactivity powered by JavaScript.
Three Rendering Strategies: The Pros and Cons
Splitt simplifies rendering into three core strategies, each suited for different needs:
1. Pre-rendering: Simple, Secure, and Static
Pre-rendering involves generating complete HTML pages ahead of time using tools like Jekyll, Gatsby, or Hugo. These static files are then served to users, ensuring quick and reliable delivery.
- Pros: Extremely secure and easy to maintain. Great for blogs, portfolios, and sites with infrequent updates.
- Cons: Lacks dynamic capabilities. Updating content requires re-rendering the entire site.
2. Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Dynamic and Responsive
With SSR, rendering happens on the server whenever a user requests a page. It’s ideal for sites requiring personalization, like e-commerce stores or social platforms.
- Pros: Supports interactivity, user-specific content, and real-time updates.
- Cons: Higher complexity, increased server load, and potential security vulnerabilities.
3. Client-Side Rendering (CSR): App-Like Experiences
CSR uses JavaScript to dynamically render content in the user’s browser. This allows for smooth, app-like interactions without full-page reloads.
- Pros: Ideal for interactive apps and tools. Supports offline functionality through Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
- Cons: Relies on users’ devices and browsers, making it prone to issues like broken scripts or slow initial loading. SEO can also suffer if search engines can’t index content properly.
Hybrid Approaches: The Best of Both Worlds?
To address the limitations of CSR, many developers adopt hybrid strategies like hydration, which combines SSR and CSR.
By rendering initial content server-side and loading interactivity client-side, hybrid models strike a balance between speed and functionality.
However, Splitt warns that these setups are more complex and require ongoing maintenance.
Why Rendering Choices Matter
Your rendering strategy affects everything from user experience to search engine optimization (SEO):
- User Experience: Pre-rendering offers fast load times for static content, while SSR handles personalization. CSR creates app-like experiences but may slow down initial loads.
- SEO Implications: Search engines rely on accessible content. CSR risks leaving critical information unindexed if JavaScript fails.
- Resources and Costs: Pre-rendering requires minimal infrastructure, while SSR demands robust servers. CSR shifts the processing burden to users’ devices.
What It Means for Your Website
Splitt’s insights are a wake-up call for developers and businesses alike.
Choosing the wrong rendering strategy can lead to poor performance, frustrated users, and even lower search rankings.
But the right choice can deliver blazing-fast speeds, seamless interactions, and satisfied visitors.
The Future of Rendering: What’s Next?
Looking ahead, rendering strategies will likely become more sophisticated.
Technologies like edge computing and next-gen frameworks such as Next.js are paving the way for faster, more scalable solutions.
Progressive Web Apps and hybrid models will continue to dominate, offering developers new tools to balance performance and interactivity.
How to Choose the Right Rendering Strategy
Splitt emphasizes that there’s no universal solution. Instead, developers should evaluate their specific needs:
Define Your Goals: Is your site primarily static, dynamic, or interactive?
Evaluate Resources: Do you have the time, budget, and expertise to maintain complex setups?
Test and Iterate: Experiment with different strategies to find the optimal balance between speed, functionality, and SEO.
Key Takeaways
- Rendering is the process of combining templates and data to display webpages.
- Pre-rendering (static), SSR (dynamic on server), and CSR (dynamic in the browser) each have pros and cons.
- Content visibility for search engines is critical, especially for CSR-based sites.
- Hydration blends SSR and CSR, offering speed and flexibility at the cost of complexity.
- Your website’s needs, resources, and audience dictate the ideal rendering strategy.
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