Mastering Server-Side Rendering (SSR) with React Query

Introduction:

Server-side rendering (SSR) plays a crucial role in improving the initial load time and SEO performance of web applications.

In this blog post, we'll explore how to leverage React Query for server-side rendering. We'll cover practical use cases, including setting up React Query for SSR, handling initial data population and hydration, and implementing strategies for data revalidation on the client.

By the end, you'll have a solid understanding of SSR with React Query and be able to create blazing-fast and SEO-friendly applications.

Setting up React Query for Server-Side Rendering:

Example 1: Configuring React Query for SSR

// server.js
import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from 'react-query';
import { renderToString } from 'react-dom/server';
import App from './App';

const queryClient = new QueryClient();

const appHtml = renderToString(
  <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
    <App />
  </QueryClientProvider>
);

// Render the app HTML with the initial data and send it to the client

In this example, we set up React Query for server-side rendering by creating a new instance of QueryClient and providing it to the QueryClientProvider. The App component is wrapped inside the provider, ensuring that the initial data is fetched and available during server-side rendering. Finally, the rendered HTML is sent to the client, including the initial data populated by React Query.

Example 2: Data Hydration on the Client

// client.js
import { hydrate } from 'react-dom';
import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from 'react-query';
import App from './App';

const queryClient = new QueryClient();

hydrate(
  <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
    <App />
  </QueryClientProvider>,
  document.getElementById('root')
);

// Hydrate the app on the client, allowing React Query to take over and manage the data

In this example, we hydrate the application on the client-side using the hydrate function from react-dom. The QueryClient is created again on the client-side, and the QueryClientProvider wraps the App component. React Query takes over and manages the data, reusing the initial data fetched during server-side rendering, and seamlessly transitioning to client-side data fetching.

Strategies for Data Revalidation on the Client:

Example 3: Manual Data Revalidation

import { useQuery } from 'react-query';

const fetchUserData = async (userId) => {
  // Fetch user data based on the provided user ID
};

const UserProfile = ({ userId }) => {
  const { data } = useQuery(['userData', userId], () => fetchUserData(userId));

  // Render the user profile data and implement a manual data revalidation mechanism
};

In this example, we fetch user data using the useQuery hook. By specifying the query key as ['userData', userId], we can easily identify and revalidate the user data when needed. Implementing a manual data revalidation mechanism, such as a refresh button or a periodic refresh, allows users to fetch the latest data without requiring a full page reload.

Example 4: Automatic Data Revalidation

import { useQuery } from 'react-query';

const fetchLatestNews = async () => {
  // Fetch the latest news data
};

const NewsFeed = () => {
  const { data } = useQuery('latestNews', fetchLatestNews, { refetchInterval: 60000 });

  // Render the news feed and utilize the automatic data revalidation feature
};

In this

example, we fetch the latest news data using the useQuery hook. By setting the refetchInterval option to 60000 (1 minute), React Query automatically triggers a data refetch every 1 minute. This ensures that the news feed always displays up-to-date information without any user intervention.

Summary:

Server-side rendering (SSR) with React Query enhances initial load time and SEO performance.
Setting up React Query for SSR involves creating a QueryClient instance and wrapping the app with QueryClientProvider.
Data hydration on the client enables React Query to seamlessly take over data management.
Strategies for data revalidation include manual revalidation and automatic revalidation with intervals.
React Query empowers developers to build blazing-fast and SEO-friendly applications with SSR.

By mastering SSR with React Query, you can optimize the performance and SEO visibility of your web applications. Experiment with these concepts, explore React Query's documentation for further customization, and unlock the full potential of server-side rendering with React Query. Happy coding!