Understanding React Server Components

React Server Components render on the server with zero client JavaScript. Here's how to use them effectively.

When to Use Each#

Server Components:
✓ Fetching data
✓ Accessing backend resources
✓ Keeping sensitive data on server
✓ Large dependencies
✓ Static content

Client Components:
✓ Interactivity (onClick, onChange)
✓ useState, useEffect, useContext
✓ Browser APIs
✓ Custom hooks with state
✓ Event listeners

Best Practices#

Architecture:
✓ Default to Server Components
✓ Add 'use client' only when needed
✓ Keep client components small
✓ Lift data fetching to Server Components

Performance:
✓ Fetch data in parallel
✓ Use Suspense for streaming
✓ Cache appropriately
✓ Preload critical data

Patterns:
✓ Pass data as props to Client Components
✓ Use children for composition
✓ Co-locate Server Actions
✓ Handle errors at boundaries

React Server Components enable efficient server-side rendering with zero client JavaScript for static content. Use them for data fetching and heavy computations, while reserving Client Components for interactivity. Combine with Suspense for streaming and Server Actions for mutations.

Understanding React Server Components

Server vs Client Components#

When to Use Each#

Data Fetching#

Composition Patterns#

Streaming and Suspense#

Caching#

Server Actions#

Error Handling#

Best Practices#

Conclusion#

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