Static Site Generation (SSG) Next.js

What You’ll Learn 📚

• Understanding Static Site Generation (SSG)
• Key terminology and concepts
• How to implement SSG in Next.js with examples
• Troubleshooting common issues
• Practice exercises to solidify your knowledge

Introduction to Static Site Generation

Static Site Generation (SSG) is a method of pre-rendering web pages at build time. This means that the HTML for each page is generated in advance, rather than on each request. This approach can greatly improve performance and SEO, as the pages are ready to be served to users without additional server processing.

Think of SSG like preparing a batch of cookies in advance. When someone wants a cookie, you can hand it to them immediately, instead of baking it from scratch each time!

Core Concepts

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a popular React framework that enables developers to build server-rendered React applications with ease. It offers features like automatic code splitting, server-side rendering (SSR), and static site generation (SSG).

Key Terminology

• Pre-rendering: Generating the HTML for a page in advance, rather than on each request.
• Build Time: The time when the application is compiled and optimized before deployment.
• getStaticProps: A Next.js function used to fetch data at build time for static pages.

Getting Started with Next.js

npx create-next-app my-static-site

cd my-static-site

npm run dev

Example 2: Creating a Static Page

Now, let’s create a simple static page using Next.js.

// pages/index.js
export default function Home() {
  return (
    

      
Welcome to My Static Site!
      
This page is statically generated.
    
  );
}

Example 3: Using getStaticProps

Let’s fetch some data at build time using getStaticProps.

// pages/index.js
export async function getStaticProps() {
  const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data').then(res => res.json());
  return {
    props: {
      data,
    },
  };
}

export default function Home({ data }) {
  return (
    

      
Data from API
      
{JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)}

  );

}

Here, getStaticProps fetches data from an API at build time. The data is then passed to the Home component as props, allowing you to render it on the page.

Common Questions and Answers

What is the difference between SSG and SSR?
SSG generates pages at build time, while SSR generates them on each request. SSG is faster for static content, while SSR is better for dynamic content.

Why use SSG over traditional server-side rendering?
SSG offers faster load times and better scalability for static content, as pages are pre-rendered and can be served quickly.

Can I use SSG for dynamic content?
SSG is best for static content. For dynamic content, consider using SSR or client-side rendering.

How does Next.js handle routing?
Next.js uses a file-based routing system. Each file in the pages directory corresponds to a route.

What happens if my data changes after build time?
You can use Incremental Static Regeneration to update static pages after the initial build.


Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you encounter a ‘Module not found’ error, ensure all dependencies are installed correctly by running npm install.
If your page doesn’t update after changes, try restarting the development server with npm run dev.
Practice Exercises

Create a new static page in your Next.js project and use getStaticProps to fetch data from a different API.
Experiment with styling your static pages using CSS modules.
Try implementing Incremental Static Regeneration for a page that needs frequent updates.

Keep practicing, and remember: every expert was once a beginner. You’ve got this! 🚀