Understanding SSR, SSG, and ISR: When to Use Each
A comprehensive guide to different rendering strategies in modern web development and when to use each approach.
Introduction
Modern web development offers multiple rendering strategies, each with its own advantages and use cases. Understanding when to use Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Static Site Generation (SSG), or Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) is crucial for building optimal web applications.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
SSR renders pages on the server for each request. This approach is ideal for:
- Dynamic content that changes frequently
- User-specific content
- Real-time data
- Applications requiring fresh content on every request
Static Site Generation (SSG)
SSG pre-renders pages at build time. This approach is perfect for:
- Static content like marketing pages
- Documentation sites
- Blog posts that don't change frequently
- Maximum performance requirements
Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR)
ISR combines the benefits of both SSR and SSG. It's ideal for:
- Content that changes occasionally
- E-commerce product pages
- News articles
- Any content that needs to be fresh but doesn't change constantly
Performance Comparison
Here's how the three strategies compare in terms of performance:
- SSR: Good initial load, requires server processing
- SSG: Fastest loading, no server processing needed
- ISR: Fast loading with background updates