Beginner’s Guide to Next.js Server and Client Components

Server Components and Client Components are key features in Next.js that help you create dynamic and interactive web applications. Let’s break down how they work and when to use each one.

On the server side, Next.js uses React’s APIs to render your components. Server Components are rendered into a special format called the React Server Component Payload. This payload, along with Client Components, is used to prerender the HTML for your app.

When a user first loads your app, they’ll see a non-interactive preview generated from HTML. The React Server Component Payload then kicks in to combine the Server and Client component trees, while JavaScript makes your app interactive through hydration.

Subsequent navigations are even faster, thanks to prefetching and caching of the RSC Payload. With Client Components rendered entirely on the client side, your app loads quickly and smoothly.

So, when should you use Server Components and Client Components? Server Components are ideal for fetching data from databases or APIs, managing secrets, minimizing client-side JS, and optimizing content streaming. On the other hand, Client Components shine when you need state management, lifecycle methods, browser APIs, or custom hooks.

You can create Client Components by using the “use client” directive in your file. This marks the boundary between Server and Client logic, making it easy to reduce JS bundle size by focusing on interactive components.

Passing data between Server and Client Components is simple using props. You can even nest Server Components within Client Components to create a seamless user experience.

In a nutshell, Server Components handle server-side logic, while Client Components bring interactivity to your app. By combining the two effectively, you can build fast and engaging web applications with Next.js.