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GetServerSideProps is a feature of the popular open-source JavaScript library, Next.js. This feature allows data fetching on the server-side, providing the magic to perform operations like page generation on every request which ultimately helps in enhancing SEO and user experience.
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
const res = await fetch(`https://.../data`);
const data = await res.json();
if (!data) {
return {
notFound: true,
}
}
return {
props: { data },
}
}
When integrated into your Next.js application, getServerSideProps triggers a call to your data source, only rendering the page once the data is returned. This contributes to faster page loads and the perception of a more responsive application.
Understanding the getServerSideProps Function
The getServerSideProps function is a server-side rendering (SSR) feature in Next.js, which waits for all the data to be fetched before it completes the render. SSR improves SEO performance as it presents a fully rendered page to search engines, a crucial point for public pages where SEO positioning is crucial.
In the sample code above, the function ‘getServerSideProps’ fetches data from a server. This data is then passed as a prop to the React component and is precached on the server, which allows the UI to readily update and render.
Benefits and Usage of getServerSideProps
The main advantage is the improvement of SEO. Rather than receiving a blank page, web crawlers get a fully rendered page. This makes your website more indexable and improves its ranking on search engine result pages.
It also improves user experience. On slow connections, users might typically see a blank or a loading screen. However, with getServerSideProps, they immediately see a rendered page.
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
const { params, req, res, query } = context
// Perform server-side operations
return {
props: {},
}
}
In the example above, the ‘context’ parameter is an object with keys that can be used for server-side operations.
- params: Contains route parameters for pages using dynamic routes.
- req: An instance of http.IncomingMessage, plus some pre-built middlewares
- res: An instance of http.ServerResponse
- query: An object representing the query string.
Creating web applications that blend performance, SEO optimization, and excellent user experience is a complex task, but with features like getServerSideProps from Next.js, these goals become more attainable.
Libraries and Functions Involved
The key function involved in the solution is getServerSideProps, a Next.js specific function. This feature includes a built-in fetch() function, a modern alternative to XMLHttpRequest. The await operator used with fetch() is used to wait for the Promise it returns to resolve.
Remember, understanding the tools at your disposal, like Next.js and its server-side rendering feature, is crucial to creating applications that not only work well but also perform well from an SEO perspective. With the strong coupling of JavaScript and SEO, the importance of tools like Next.js and features like getServerSideProps cannot be overstated.
