How to disable server side rendering on some pages in nextjs?

In Next.js, pages typically default to Server-Side Rendering (SSR). However, in certain scenarios, it may be necessary to switch specific pages to Client-Side Rendering (CSR) to improve performance or because some pages rely on client-side APIs that are not executable on the server side. To disable Server-Side Rendering in Next.js, multiple approaches can be utilized.

Method 1: Using Static Generation

If you don't require the latest data upon request, generate the page using getStaticProps (Static Generation) instead of getServerSideProps (Server-Side Rendering). This approach pre-generates the page during the build process, and the static content is delivered directly upon access.

Example code:

javascript
export async function getStaticProps(context) {
  // Fetch data here
  return {
    props: {}, // Passed to the page component
  }
}

function HomePage(props) {
  return <div>Welcome to Next.js!</div>
}

export default HomePage

Method 2: Dynamic Import of Components

For components that need to be dynamically rendered on the client, utilize Next.js's dynamic import feature. This ensures the component is only loaded and rendered on the client side.

Example code:

javascript
import dynamic from 'next/dynamic'

const ClientSideComponent = dynamic(() => import('../components/ClientSideComponent'), {
  ssr: false
})

function MyPage() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>This is my page</h1>
      <ClientSideComponent />
    </div>
  )
}

export default MyPage

In the above code, ClientSideComponent will only render on the client, and the server will not process this section.

Method 3: Conditional Server-Side Rendering

In some cases, you might want to conditionally disable Server-Side Rendering based on specific request conditions. Control this within getServerSideProps using conditional logic.

Example code:

javascript
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
  if (someCondition) {
    // Return empty props to render on client
    return { props: {} };
  } else {
    // Perform standard server-side rendering
    return {
      props: {
        data: fetchData()
      }
    };
  }
}

function ConditionalPage({ data }) {
  return <div>{data ? `Data: ${data}` : 'Loading data on client...'}</div>
}

export default ConditionalPage

In this example, if someCondition is true, the page renders on the client; otherwise, it renders on the server.

By employing these methods, you can flexibly disable Server-Side Rendering in your Next.js application based on project requirements. Each approach has specific use cases, and selecting the appropriate method can help optimize your application's performance and user experience.