What Are Server Components?

Why Should You Use Server Components?

1. Faster Load Times

Users don’t have to download extra JavaScript, so pages open quicker.

2. Better User Experience

Data can be fetched on the server, so users don’t see loading spinners often.

3. Simpler Code Structure

No need to make separate APIs to get data for your components.

4. Cleaner Code Management

You can keep server code and client code separate, which makes the app easier to maintain.

How to Use Server Components (Using Next.js 13+)

Step 1: Create a Server Component

Any file in the app/ folder is a Server Component by default.

// app/page.tsx
import db from '@/lib/db';

export default async function HomePage() {
  const posts = await db.getPosts();

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Latest Posts</h1>
      <ul>
        {posts.map((post) => (
          <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

This component fetches blog posts directly from the database on the server and sends the HTML to the browser.

Step 2: Use Client Component Inside a Server Component

Let’s say you want to add a Like button that the user can click. You’ll need to use a Client Component for that.

// LikeButton.tsx
'use client';

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function LikeButton() {
  const [liked, setLiked] = useState(false);
  return <button onClick={() => setLiked(!liked)}>{liked ? '❤️' : '🤍'}</button>;
}

You can now use this inside your Server Component:

// Post.tsx
import LikeButton from './LikeButton';

export default async function Post({ postId }) {
  const post = await getPost(postId);

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>{post.title}</h2>
      <LikeButton />
    </div>
  );
}

When Should You Use Server Components?

Best Use Cases:

Avoid When:

Real-World Examples

E-commerce Websites

Blog Platforms

Admin Dashboards

What’s Next for React?

Quick Summary

How Sparkle Web Helps You

Let Sparkle Web help you plan, build, and deliver with React Server Components and Next.js. Contact us today for a free chat about how we can improve your app with the latest tech.