What is the Difference Between Static Rendering and Dynamic Rendering in Next.js?

In Next.js, the key difference between Static Rendering and Dynamic Rendering lies in the timing and method of content generation:

1. Static Rendering (also known as Static Site Generation, SSG):

   • Page content is generated during the build process (build time) and saved as static HTML files.
   • Each request receives the same HTML file, resulting in very fast page loading.
   • Primarily suitable for pages with infrequently changing content, such as blog posts and marketing pages.
   • Implemented using Next.js's getStaticProps (for pre-fetching page data) and getStaticPaths (for static generation of dynamic paths).

2. Dynamic Rendering (also known as Server-Side Rendering, SSR):

   • Page content is dynamically generated on each request, typically performed on the server.
   • Can return different page content based on the request, suitable for pages with highly dynamic content.
   • Page response may be slightly slower compared to static rendering, as the server needs to process page generation in real-time.
   • Implemented using Next.js's getServerSideProps method, which executes on every page request to fetch the latest data.

Overall, the choice of rendering method depends on the dynamic nature of the page content and the required page response speed. Static rendering is suitable for pages with stable content, while dynamic rendering is better suited for scenarios with frequently updated content.