What is Next.js SSG?

Static site generation (SSG) is a method of generating pre-rendered HTML pages during the build process. This means that when a user requests a page, they will receive an already-built static HTML page rather than a dynamically generated page. This method can provide faster page load times and improve search engine optimization (SEO).

Next.js SSG leverages this technique by generating static HTML pages during the build process. It allows developers to create websites with the ease of use of a traditional static site generator while still having the flexibility and capabilities of a React-based application. With SSG, the HTML is generated at build time, so the server does not need to generate it dynamically for each request.

Benefits of Next.js SSG

1. Fast page loads: Static HTML pages generated at build time load faster than dynamically generated pages, which can improve the user experience.

2. Improved SEO: Search engines can index static pages more easily, which can improve SEO rankings.

3. Lower server load: Since the pages are pre-built, the server does not need to render them dynamically, which reduces server load and can lead to lower hosting costs

4. Easy to deploy: Since the pages are generated at build time, they can be deployed to any hosting service that supports static websites.

How does Next.js SSG work?

Next.js SSG uses the getStaticProps() function to fetch data at build time and generate static HTML pages. The getStaticProps() function is called during the build process and fetches data from an external API or a local data source. The data is then used to generate static pages, which are stored in the /out folder.

When a user requests a page, Next.js serves the pre-generated static HTML page, which can be cached and served to other users without needing to generate the page again. If the data changes, the pages can be regenerated during the build process.

Conclusion

Next.js SSG is a powerful feature that can provide significant benefits to web developers. By generating static HTML pages during the build process, Next.js SSG can improve page load times, SEO, and reduce server load. Next.js SSG is easy to use and can be deployed to any hosting service that supports static websites. Overall, Next.js SSG is a valuable addition to the Next.js framework and can help developers build faster and more efficient websites