Concepts

Server Components

React components that run exclusively on the server, rendering HTML before it reaches the browser.

What are Server Components?

Server Components are React components that run only on the server and never ship JavaScript to the browser.

They render on the server, send HTML to the client, and can directly access databases or APIs without exposing credentials. Think of them as a way to keep heavy logic server-side while still writing React.

Builders use them in Next.js to fetch data directly in components, reduce bundle sizes, and speed up initial page loads. You write regular React code, but it executes on the server and sends rendered content to users.

Available in Next.js 13+ with the App Router. The paradigm shift means faster apps and smaller JavaScript bundles, especially for data-heavy pages.

Good to Know

Run exclusively on the server - zero JavaScript sent to the browser for these components
Can directly access databases, file systems, and APIs without exposing credentials
Reduce bundle sizes significantly by keeping data-fetching logic server-side
Work alongside Client Components - you mix both in the same app
Built into Next.js 13+ with the App Router as the default component type

How Vibe Coders Use Server Components

1
Fetching user data from your database directly in a component without writing API routes
2
Building marketing pages that load instantly because there's no JavaScript to parse
3
Accessing environment variables and secrets safely without exposing them to the browser
4
Rendering complex data visualizations on the server to send just the HTML

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Terms

Client Components

React components that run in the browser and can use hooks, event handlers, and browser APIs like localStorage.

App Router

Next.js's file-system based routing that uses React Server Components for faster, more flexible page navigation and data fetching.

Next.js

A React framework that handles routing, server rendering, and optimization out of the box so you can ship faster.

React

A JavaScript library for building user interfaces with reusable components. Created by Meta, powers Facebook, Instagram, and thousands of apps.

Components

Reusable building blocks in software that handle specific functions and can be combined to build complete applications.

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