Web Development

Server-Side Rendering vs Static Generation

20 January 2026

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5 min read

In the world of web development, two popular techniques for rendering websites are server-side rendering and static generation. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two methods and discuss how to choose the best approach for your website. By understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each technique, you can optimise your website for better performance, user experience, and search engine ranking.

Introduction to Server-Side Rendering and Static Generation

When it comes to building a website, one of the most critical decisions you will make is how to render your web pages. Rendering refers to the process of generating the visual elements of a website, including the layout, images, and text. There are two primary techniques for rendering websites: server-side rendering (SSR) and static generation (SG). In this article, we will delve into the world of SSR and SG, exploring their differences, benefits, and drawbacks, and discussing how to choose the best approach for your website.

According to a study by Akamai, a leading content delivery network (CDN) provider, the average user expects a website to load within 2-3 seconds. If a website takes longer than this to load, users are likely to abandon it, resulting in a significant loss of revenue and damage to the website's reputation. Therefore, it is essential to optimise your website for better performance and user experience.

What is Server-Side Rendering?

Server-side rendering (SSR) is a technique where the server generates the HTML of a web page on each request. This means that when a user requests a web page, the server creates the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on the fly, and then sends them to the user's browser for rendering. SSR is commonly used in dynamic websites, where the content changes frequently, such as e-commerce websites, blogs, and news websites.

SSR provides several benefits, including:

Faster page loads: With SSR, the server generates the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on each request, which means that the user's browser can start rendering the page immediately, resulting in faster page loads.
Improved SEO: Search engines like Google can crawl and index SSR websites more efficiently, as the server generates the HTML on each request, making it easier for search engines to understand the website's structure and content.
Enhanced user experience: SSR enables websites to provide a more dynamic and interactive user experience, as the server can generate content on the fly, based on user input and preferences.

What is Static Generation?

Static generation (SG) is a technique where the website's HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files are generated beforehand, during the build process, and stored on a CDN or web server. This means that when a user requests a web page, the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files are served directly from the CDN or web server, without the need for server-side processing.

SG provides several benefits, including:

Faster page loads: With SG, the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files can be served directly from the CDN or web server, resulting in faster page loads and reduced latency.
Improved security: SG reduces the risk of server-side vulnerabilities, as the server is not involved in generating the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on each request.
Reduced server load: SG reduces the load on the server, as the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files can be served directly from the CDN or web server, without the need for server-side processing.

Comparison of Server-Side Rendering and Static Generation

Both SSR and SG have their benefits and drawbacks, and the choice between the two ultimately depends on the specific needs and goals of your website. Here is a comparison of the two techniques:

Feature	Server-Side Rendering	Static Generation
Page Load Time	Faster page loads, as the server generates the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on each request	Faster page loads, as the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files can be served directly from the CDN or web server
SEO	Improved SEO, as search engines can crawl and index the website more efficiently	SG can be less effective for SEO, as the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files may not be updated frequently enough
User Experience	Enhanced user experience, as the server can generate content on the fly, based on user input and preferences	Less dynamic user experience, as the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files may not be updated frequently enough
Security	Higher risk of server-side vulnerabilities, as the server is involved in generating the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on each request	Improved security, as the server is not involved in generating the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on each request
Server Load	Higher server load, as the server is involved in generating the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files on each request	Reduced server load, as the pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files can be served directly from the CDN or web server

When to Use Server-Side Rendering

SSR is suitable for websites that require dynamic content, such as:

E-commerce websites: SSR is ideal for e-commerce websites, where the content changes frequently, and the website needs to provide a dynamic and interactive user experience.
Blogs and news websites: SSR is suitable for blogs and news websites, where the content changes frequently, and the website needs to provide a dynamic and interactive user experience.
Web applications: SSR is ideal for web applications, where the content changes frequently, and the website needs to provide a dynamic and interactive user experience.

When to Use Static Generation

SG is suitable for websites that do not require dynamic content, such as:

Brochure websites: SG is ideal for brochure websites, where the content does not change frequently, and the website does not require a dynamic and interactive user experience.
Marketing websites: SG is suitable for marketing websites, where the content does not change frequently, and the website does not require a dynamic and interactive user experience.
Personal websites: SG is ideal for personal websites, where the content does not change frequently, and the website does not require a dynamic and interactive user experience.

Best Practices for Implementing Server-Side Rendering and Static Generation

When implementing SSR or SG, there are several best practices to keep in mind:

Use a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN can help reduce latency and improve page load times, by serving pre-generated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files from edge servers located closer to the user.
Optimise images and videos: Optimising images and videos can help reduce page load times, by reducing the file size and improving compression.
Use caching: Caching can help reduce the load on the server, by storing frequently accessed resources in memory, and reducing the number of requests to the server.
Use a web application firewall (WAF): A WAF can help improve security, by protecting the website from common web attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

Tools and Technologies for Server-Side Rendering and Static Generation

There are several tools and technologies available for implementing SSR and SG, including:

Next.js: Next.js is a popular framework for building server-side rendered and statically generated websites, using React and Node.js.
Gatsby: Gatsby is a popular framework for building statically generated websites, using React and GraphQL.
WordPress: WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that supports both SSR and SG, using plugins such as WP Super Cache and W3 Total Cache.

Conclusion

In conclusion, server-side rendering and static generation are two popular techniques for rendering websites, each with their benefits and drawbacks. By understanding the differences between these two techniques, and choosing the best approach for your website, you can optimise your website for better performance, user experience, and search engine ranking. Whether you choose to use SSR or SG, it is essential to follow best practices, such as using a CDN, optimising images and videos, using caching, and using a WAF, to ensure that your website is secure, fast, and provides a dynamic and interactive user experience.

If you are unsure about which technique to use, or need help implementing SSR or SG, consider consulting with a professional web development agency, who can provide expert guidance and support to help you achieve your website goals. By working with a professional web development agency, you can ensure that your website is built using the latest technologies and best practices, and is optimised for better performance, user experience, and search engine ranking.

According to a study by Forrester, a leading research and advisory company, the average return on investment (ROI) for a website redesign is 200-300%. By investing in a professional web development agency, you can ensure that your website is built to last, and provides a strong foundation for your business to grow and succeed.

In the UK, there are many professional web development agencies that can provide expert guidance and support to help you achieve your website goals. By working with a professional web development agency, you can ensure that your website is built using the latest technologies and best practices, and is optimised for better performance, user experience, and search engine ranking.

Remember, a well-designed and well-built website is essential for any business, as it provides a strong foundation for growth and success. By choosing the right technique for your website, and following best practices, you can ensure that your website is secure, fast, and provides a dynamic and interactive user experience, and helps you achieve your business goals.