SPA vs SSR vs SPG

When it comes to building a web application, there are several architectural patterns to choose from, among which. This article will explore the differences between SPA, SSR, and SPG.

SPA (Single-Page Application)

A SPA is a web application that loads only one HTML page and dynamically updates the content on the page without reloading the entire page. It typically uses JavaScript and Ajax to communicate with the server and fetch data from APIs. SPA provides a fast and responsive user experience because it eliminates the need to wait for page reloads to view new content.

One of the most popular JavaScript frameworks for building SPAs is React. React allows developers to break down their application into small, reusable components, which makes it easy to maintain and update the codebase.

SSR (Server-Side Rendering)

SSR involves generating HTML on the server and sending it to the client, rather than relying on the client to generate the HTML. This approach can provide a faster initial loading time and better SEO, because search engines can crawl the HTML content.

However, SSR can add complexity to the development process, and it requires a server that can handle rendering the HTML. Some popular frameworks that support SSR are Next.js, Nuxt.js, and Angular Universal.

SPG (Serverless Pre-Rendering)

SPG is a combination of SPA and SSR, which takes the advantages of both. SPG generates pre-rendered pages during build time, so the content is served statically. This provides the benefits of faster initial loading time and SEO, while also allowing the application to continue working as a SPA after the initial load.

Frameworks like Gatsby.js and VuePress support SPG, making it easy to build static sites and progressive web applications.

Conclusion

In summary, SPA, SSR, and SPG are different architectural patterns for building web applications, each with their pros and cons. Developers should choose the approach that best fits their project requirements and the needs of the users.