Since headless CMS solutions emerged, companies have more innovative ways to create, manage, deliver, and optimize content. Inherent benefits of headless systems include flexibility, scalability, and performance gains since they decouple the front-end presentation layer from the back-end content storage system. Yet processing all that's needed to display content within the CMS remains. Still, choosing how to display content is essential for website speed, SEO, and user retention.

There are different ways to render content on websites built with headless CMS solutions, but the most popular are Server-Side Rendering and Static Site Generation. Each rendering technique improves content delivery, reduces load times, and increases Core Web Vitals. This article explains how to configure SSR and SSG with a headless CMS and which to use when the benefits for performance and SEO advantages.

Understanding Server-Side Rendering (SSR) in Headless CMS

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) occurs when a page is rendered at request time, not at build time, so deployment does not automatically render a static page. A static page, as described, uses an HTML file that has already been rendered, which is what the user receives when the page is requested. Thus, SSR renders a page that is already built (in the sense of HTML output) from ECS on the server and delivered to the user. It has better SEO, better customization, and better updates based on current information. Any website or application that requires constant information change or user engagement would benefit from this rendering technique.

SSR works with a headless CMS by rendering through the API; for example, in a content management system with a headless backend/just a headless CMS, upon request, the API is called to pull information, at which point, information is rendered as HTML via the server, and a fully rendered page is sent back to the user's browser. Similarly, because search engines receive a server-rendered application or output, even the most dynamic, data-driven applications remain SEO-friendly and improve their ranking. This makes SSR a vital part of any digital content strategy, ensuring both performance and discoverability are optimized.

This works well with applications that frequently require data changes upon each request, like news applications, ecommerce applications with changing inventory and deals, data dashboard applications, as well as stock or banking applications that change every hour or day or any other rapid turnaround. For example, an eCommerce website using SSR along with a headless CMS can receive requests for product information about inventory, price updates, and even suggestions for logged-in users in real-time. Thus, at any given moment, a user is seeing accurate product information, which helps build trust and increases conversion likelihood. 

Similarly, travel companies can implement SSR to show real-time flight inventories and hotel prices, as well as flash sales, which improves both the user experience and engagement and likelihood to convert. Moreover, in addition to providing accurate information in real-time, SSR is vital for performance and inclusivity. Since server-side rendering provides the rendered content from the server to the client, it decreases the expectation of clients generating content themselves via JavaScript.

Thus, SSR can help websites load faster on low-power devices, slower connections, or even Google crawlers that are unable to utilize JavaScript. This is key for any business that might operate with an international customer base, as people operate at different speeds and devices.
In addition, SSR enhances Core Web Vitals because pages load with better First Contentful Paint (FCP) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) scores, which also contribute to the quality of experience and SEO placement. Those websites employing SSR have faster load times, lower bounce rates, and increased engagement as users will want to remain on the page longer and be able to easily interact with what's there.

Therefore, by implementing SSR through a headless CMS, businesses can have their cake and eat it too. They have fast access to content delivery, great SEO crawling and indexing facilitation, and updated content in real time. It's a win-win for busy, successful companies that need dynamic, effective, and engaging online experiences. Over time, websites will become increasingly customized with real-time access to information and even AI-generated recommendations. SSR will ensure that they are more reactive, SEO-friendly, and exponentially scalable for the web application's future.

Understanding Static Site Generation (SSG) in Headless CMS

Static Site Generation (SSG) renders applications at lightning speed because pages are generated at the time of application deployment as opposed to at request for a page load. Unlike Server-Side Rendering (SSR), which requires certain elements to be rendered at request time, SSG allows sites to be pre-rendered as static HTML files so that when the application is deployed, the full site is served all at once instead of generated at request time. 

Because no rendering needs to happen and no server-side processing needs to occur in real-time, SSG relieves much stress on a server while simultaneously providing users with web page access in record time. In addition, this means that at request time, there are no database requests or logical processing, which significantly reduces security vulnerabilities associated with database-driven applications. Thus, SSG offers a more streamlined application with stronger security features.

The types of sites that work best with SSG include content-heavy sites, marketing sites, documentation sites, and static blogs that do not change frequently over long periods. Since sites can pre-render every page during build time, a headless CMS will work exponentially faster upon deployment because users will have near-instant access to any web page. There is better server efficiency and potential for scalability without concern. In addition, utilizing CDNs to serve static pages around the world with users anywhere getting access to the frozen-in-time rendering of the site SSG provides users from any location super-fast experiences with minimal friction.

The most significant advantage of SSG with a headless CMS concerns vastly improved Core Web Vitals scores Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Since pages created from SSG are fully rendered ahead of time and served, they load almost instantaneously to the end user, which triggers better engagement, SEO, and bounce rates. The more a site loads in a timely manner, the better it ranks when users seek answers on the web; therefore, SSG is a great way to accommodate search engine needs.

For example, a news site about software development that uses SSG via a headless CMS can generate all its articles and category pages at build time; therefore, when the user requests the URL, they get fully rendered and SEO-friendly page loads as quickly as possible. This works particularly well for news sites looking to create articles with evergreen quality since static builds prevent the need for real-time database queries while still allowing content to be viewed and indexed by Google and Bing crawlers.

Similarly, a corporate site using SSG will be able to create all landing pages, product pages, case studies, and all press releases ahead of time so visitors never experience lag from processing on the back end. Because static files can be delivered instantly, companies can build their online brand better, have higher conversion rates, and a seamless experience for all users on any device and any level of bandwidth.

Static generating sites are best for environments that do not constantly change. The problems arise with sites that are in dynamic situations with constantly updated information. To work around some of this, there's a new option called Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR), where sites can quasi-dynamically update pre-generated pages as needed without regenerating the whole site. For example, a retail site that utilizes SSG and ISR can generate product pages and then every time someone changes the price or availability of an item, that updates immediately on the page without having to regenerate the whole site.

In addition, SSG sites are hyper-secure. They don't require live database connections, user authentication, or dynamic server requests. Because static sites only serve what's already been created, they're less susceptible to the attacks that take competing sites down; static sites don't have to worry about SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), or server-side attacks. So for someone who wants to create a secure site and avoid future performance issues, an SSG solution with a headless CMS is the way to go.

Thus, SSG with a headless CMS gives companies the best security, SEO visibility, page speed, and performance costs for infrastructure and is ideal for landing pages, sites with static content, and informational sites. In addition, as we progress into a more web-creating world, SSG with a headless CMS and subsequent edge location access will become the future baseline for scalability potential and speed that preserves time.

Conclusion

The best option to go with is Server-Side Rendering and Static Site Generation with a Headless CMS because of the remarkable benefits to SEO, performance, and scalability. For example, Server-Side Rendering provides updated dynamic content on-demand while Static Site Generation gives users the fastest pre-rendered pages that they could ever want for the best usability. The combination of both rendering options will allow businesses to reign supreme since the rendering is effective for website performance both now and in the future and for SEO requirements.