How To Choose Data Fetching Strategies In NextJS

How To Choose Data Fetching Strategies In NextJS

1. Static Site Generation (SSG)

Static Site Generation (SSG) is a method where pages are pre-rendered into static HTML at build time. This is ideal for content that doesn’t change frequently, like blogs or documentation. Since the HTML is generated during the build, the page load times are extremely fast, and it’s great for SEO as search engines can easily index static pages.

When to use SSG:

  • Content that rarely changes (e.g., blogs, marketing pages, product listings).
  • For optimal performance and SEO.
  • When you want to serve the same content to all users.

How to implement:

export async function getStaticProps() {
const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
return {
props: { data }, // will be passed to the page component as props
};
}

2. Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR)

Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) builds upon SSG by allowing pages to be updated after they’ve been generated. This means you can regenerate static pages in the background while serving the stale pages until the new ones are ready. It provides a balance between static performance and dynamic updates.

When to use ISR:

  • Content that updates periodically (e.g., news articles, e-commerce product pages).
  • When you want to keep static performance but need to reflect recent updates.

How to implement:

export async function getStaticProps() {
const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
return {
props: { data },
revalidate: 10, // Rebuild page every 10 seconds
};
}

3. Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) generates the page on each request, ensuring that the user always receives up-to-date data. This is useful for dynamic content that changes frequently or is personalized for each user. However, since the page is rendered on-demand, SSR can increase server load and affect performance if not used carefully.

When to use SSR:

  • Content that changes frequently (e.g., dashboards, live data).
  • When personalization or user-specific content is needed.
  • When SEO is important for frequently updated content.

How to implement:

export async function getServerSideProps() {
const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
return {
props: { data }, // will be passed to the page component as props
};
}

4. Client-Side Data Fetching

Client-Side Data Fetching happens after the page is loaded. It allows the page to be rendered first, and then additional data is fetched on the client side using hooks like useEffect or libraries like SWR or React Query. This strategy is often used for user-specific data or when the data doesn’t need to be SEO-optimized.

When to use Client-Side Fetching:

  • For data that doesn’t need to be pre-rendered or is user-specific (e.g., user profiles, notifications).
  • When you want to reduce the load on the server by offloading data fetching to the client.

How to implement:

import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';

export default function Page() {
const [data, setData] = useState(null);

useEffect(() => {
async function fetchData() {
const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
const result = await response.json();
setData(result);
}
fetchData();
}, []);

return (
<div> {data ? <p>{data.message}</p> : <p>Loading...</p>} </div>
);
}

5. Hybrid Data Fetching

In some cases, you may need to combine multiple strategies for different parts of the same page. For example, you might use SSG for the static parts of the page (e.g., a blog post) and Client-Side Fetching for user-specific data (e.g., comments or likes). This hybrid approach allows you to optimize for performance and dynamic content where necessary.

When to use Hybrid Fetching:

  • When parts of the page are static, but other parts need to be dynamic or user-specific.
  • To balance performance with the need for real-time updates.

Example of hybrid approach:

export async function getStaticProps() {
const staticData = await fetch('https://api.example.com/static');
return {
props: { staticData }, // SSG for static content
};
}

export default function Page({ staticData }) {
const [dynamicData, setDynamicData] = useState(null);

useEffect(() => {
async function fetchData() {
const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/dynamic');
const result = await response.json();
setDynamicData(result);
}
fetchData();
}, []);

return (
<div> <h1>{staticData.title}</h1> <p>{dynamicData ? dynamicData.message : 'Loading dynamic data...'}</p> </div>
);
}

Conclusion

Choosing the right data-fetching strategy in Next.js depends on your application's requirements for speed, SEO, and content freshness. Use SSG for static pages, SSR for dynamic content, ISR to balance between static and updated content, and client-side fetching for user-specific or non-SEO-critical data. In some cases, a hybrid approach combining these strategies will give you the best performance and user experience.