#14 Server-side vs client-side rendering | HTTP Request & Response | ASP.NET Core MVC Course

Summary

This video introduces the key concepts of server-side rendering (SSR) and client-side rendering (CSR) in web development. SSR involves the server generating HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which is sent to the client and rendered in the browser. CSR, on the other hand, relies on the client fetching data from a server via an API and rendering the UI using frameworks like React or Angular. The video also explains how these rendering models apply to ASP.NET Core, with **ASP.NET Core MVC** used for SSR and **ASP.NET Core Blazor** for CSR, providing a comprehensive overview of how each approach works and their respective advantages.

Takeaways

• 😀 SSR (Server-Side Rendering) generates HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on the server and sends a fully-rendered page to the browser.
• 😀 CSR (Client-Side Rendering) sends data from the server to the client, where JavaScript frameworks generate the UI in the browser.
• 😀 In SSR, the web page is built on the server using a templating engine (e.g., Razor in ASP.NET Core MVC), which dynamically generates content.
• 😀 In CSR, the server only provides data (usually in JSON format), and the client uses frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue to assemble and render the page.
• 😀 ASP.NET Core MVC is used for building SSR applications, where HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are generated server-side.
• 😀 ASP.NET Core Blazor is typically used for CSR applications, where web pages are generated on the client-side after receiving data from an API.
• 😀 When using SSR, the client receives fully-rendered HTML, whereas in CSR, the client receives raw data and assembles the page using JavaScript.
• 😀 The major difference between SSR and CSR is where the web page is generated: on the server for SSR, and on the client for CSR.
• 😀 Understanding the difference between SSR and CSR helps in choosing the right framework (MVC for SSR, Blazor for CSR) when using ASP.NET Core.
• 😀 Both SSR and CSR have their own advantages and trade-offs; the choice depends on the specific needs of the application, such as speed and interactivity.

Q & A

What is Server-Side Rendering (SSR)?

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is a method where the server generates the complete HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for a webpage and sends it to the client. The server handles the creation of the UI before sending it to the browser.

How does Client-Side Rendering (CSR) differ from SSR?

In Client-Side Rendering (CSR), the server only sends data, typically in JSON format, and the client (browser) is responsible for generating the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the webpage using JavaScript frameworks like React or Angular. In contrast, SSR sends the fully rendered page from the server.

What are the advantages of Client-Side Rendering?

Client-Side Rendering offers faster loading times and a more dynamic user experience because only the necessary data is sent from the server, and the browser dynamically builds the UI. It allows for smoother interactions without requiring full page reloads.

Which technology in ASP.NET Core supports Server-Side Rendering?

In ASP.NET Core, Server-Side Rendering is typically supported by ASP.NET Core MVC, which uses the Razor view engine to dynamically generate HTML on the server.

What technology in ASP.NET Core is used for Client-Side Rendering?

ASP.NET Core Blazor is used for Client-Side Rendering, where the server sends data to the client, and the client dynamically generates the web page using C# and Blazor components.

Why is it important to understand the difference between SSR and CSR?

Understanding the difference between SSR and CSR helps developers choose the appropriate approach for their applications. SSR may be beneficial for SEO, while CSR is often preferred for modern, interactive apps with faster updates.

What role does the Razor view engine play in SSR with ASP.NET Core?

The Razor view engine in ASP.NET Core MVC dynamically generates HTML on the server side. It combines predefined templates with data fetched from the database to render a complete webpage, which is then sent to the client.

What does a typical web API in CSR do?

In CSR, a web API is used to handle CRUD operations on the database. The API fetches the required data and sends it to the client in a format like JSON, which the client uses to render the webpage.

What is the main difference between the data sent in SSR and CSR?

In SSR, the server sends fully rendered HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In CSR, the server only sends data (typically in JSON format), and the client uses JavaScript frameworks to assemble and render the web page.

What are some common frameworks used for Client-Side Rendering?

Common frameworks used for Client-Side Rendering include Angular, React, and Vue. These frameworks allow the client to assemble and render the webpage dynamically using data from the server.