Client-side rendering (CSR) is when web pages are rendered in the user’s browser using JavaScript. When a user accesses a website, the server sends a minimal HTML page along with JavaScript files that dynamically generates content on the client side. Using CSR helps to create interactive experiences for the user, but can create challenges for SEO as search engines may struggle to index content effectively if it relies heavily on JavaScript execution, potentially leading to lower visibility in search results.
Server-side rendering (SSR) involves generating full HTML pages on the server before sending them to the user’s browser. When a request is made, the server processes this request and returns fully rendered pages containing all necessary content. SSR enhances SEO performance because search engines can easily crawl and index complete HTML documents without needing to execute JavaScript. Websites using SSR are often favoured by search engines because of their improved accessibility of their content.
Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. CSR typically results in faster interactions after initial load times but might hinder discoverability if not optimised correctly, while SSR improves indexing capabilities and overall SEO performance, it may lead to slower response times as each interaction requires communication with the server.
