Understanding getStaticProps vs getServerSideProps in Next.js

When building a website with Next.js, you'll often find situations where you need to fetch data for your pages. Next.js provides two powerful methods for this: getStaticProps and getServerSideProps. Choosing the right one can significantly lift your website's performance and user experience. In this post, we explore the differences between these methods and when to use each.

What is getStaticProps?

getStaticProps is a function used to fetch data at build time. It generates static pages, meaning the content is pre-rendered during the build process. This is great for content that doesn't change frequently.

How getStaticProps Works

1. Build-time HTML generation: Next.js generates the HTML for the page during the build process.
2. Reused HTML: The generated HTML is reused for each request, so the server does not fetch data on every visit.
3. Faster load times: Pre-rendered HTML is simply served to users, resulting in fast loads.
4. Improved performance: Serving pre-rendered pages improves overall site performance.
5. Better SEO: Pre-rendered pages are indexed more efficiently by search engines.

What is getServerSideProps?

getServerSideProps is a function used to fetch data on each request. Data is fetched on the server every time a request hits the page. This method suits content that changes frequently or needs to be personalised per user.

How getServerSideProps Works

1. Server-side data fetching: getServerSideProps fetches data on the server for each request.
2. HTML generation per request: HTML is generated on the server for each client request.
3. Dynamic content: Use it when content updates frequently and must be fresh.
4. Slower load times: Server fetching and per-request HTML generation can be slower than serving static pages.

When to Use getStaticProps

• Static content: Use getStaticProps for pages with content that doesn't change often, such as blog posts and documentation.
• Performance: Pre-rendered pages load faster and can be cached by a CDN.
• SEO: Pre-rendered pages are indexed efficiently by search engines.

When to Use getServerSideProps

• Dynamic content: Use getServerSideProps for pages with frequently changing or personalised content, like user dashboards or real-time data.
• Authentication: When you need to check auth status or fetch user-specific data, getServerSideProps is the right pick.
• Up-to-date information: If a page must show the most current data on each request, this method guarantees freshness.

In Summary

Choosing between getStaticProps and getServerSideProps depends on your use case. For static, infrequently-changing content, getStaticProps delivers better performance and SEO. For dynamic, frequently-changing content, getServerSideProps ensures users always see the most up-to-date data.