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Understanding getStaticProps in Next.js

Learn when and how to use getStaticProps effectively in your Next.js applications for better performance and SEO.
3/15/2025

getStaticProps: More Than Just Static Pages (And It's Not Scary!)

Let's clear something up: while some SEO crawlers (like Facebook and Google) can fetch dynamic meta tags from client-side rendering (yes, they run JavaScript!), it's not reliable. Relying on it is not recommended.

Many developers default to getServerSideProps for everything, thinking it's the only way to ensure SEO. But getStaticProps is a powerful, often overlooked tool, and it's not just for static pages!

  • Breaking it Down:
    • getStaticProps is a Next.js function that lets you pre-render pages at build time. This means:
    • Your pages are generated as static HTML files.
    • But... you can still revalidate and update these pages at runtime using Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR).
    • These files are served to users instantly, making your app incredibly fast.

  • When to Use getStaticProps:

    1. Content Doesn't Change Frequently:

      • Perfect for blogs, product pages, or real estate listings with infrequent data updates.
      • Example: A property listing page with stable price, description, and images.

    2. High Traffic Websites:

      • Static pages are highly performant and scalable, reducing server load.
      • Example: An e-commerce site with thousands of product pages.

    3. SEO Optimization:

      • Static pages are easier for search engines to crawl and index.
      • Example: A marketing landing page that needs high Google ranking.

    4. Hybrid Rendering with ISR:

      • Use revalidate to update pages periodically without rebuilding the entire site.
      • Example: A news website with articles updated every few minutes.

  • When to Avoid getStaticProps:

    1. Frequent Data Changes:

      • If your data changes every few seconds (e.g., stock prices), getServerSideProps is better.

    2. Personalized Content:

      • If the page content depends on the user (e.g., a dashboard), you'll need getServerSideProps or client-side fetching.

    3. Complex Server-Side Logic:

      • If fetching data requires authentication, cookies, or other server-side logic, getServerSideProps is the way to go.

  • Why Not Use getServerSideProps for Everything?

    While getServerSideProps ensures fresh data, it has trade-offs:

    1. Slower Performance:

      • Each request requires server-side rendering, which is slower than serving static files.

    2. Higher Server Load:

      • Not ideal for high-traffic sites without robust infrastructure.