Advanced React Interview QuestionsAdvancedComparison
React · Question 89
What is the difference between React Server Components and traditional server-side rendering?
Direct answer
SSR generates initial HTML for components that may later hydrate on the client, while Server Components execute outside the client bundle and send rendered component output that does not itself become interactive client component code.
| Concern | Server-Side Rendering | Server Components |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Generate initial HTML | Keep selected component logic and dependencies off the client |
| Client JavaScript | Rendered components may still hydrate | Server Component implementation is not shipped as client component code |
| Data access | Server rendering can fetch data | Server Components can directly access server-side data during their render |
| Interactivity | Hydrated components can be interactive | Interactivity is composed using Client Components |
The two technologies can be combined. A framework can render a Server Component tree and also use SSR to produce initial HTML for the overall page.