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How to Use getServerSideProps with Next.js App Router

Building dynamic, high-performing web applications is a core goal for modern developers. Next.js has long stood out as a robust React framework capable of server-side rendering, static site generation, and seamless SEO integration. Among its arsenal of features, one stands apart for its versatility: getServerSideProps. In this article, you’ll discover how to use getServerSideProps with the Next.js App Router, leveraging its powerful data-fetching capabilities to improve user experiences, scalability, and search engine visibility.

Understanding Server-Side Rendering in Next.js

Before diving into getServerSideProps, it's important to grasp the fundamentals of server-side rendering (SSR) within the Next.js ecosystem. SSR allows you to generate web pages on each request, ensuring that users and search engines always receive the most up-to-date content. Industry leaders in e-commerce, news, and SaaS have embraced SSR for its ability to improve time-to-content, indexability, and engagement rates.

The traditional approach in older versions of Next.js used the Pages Router, built on the pages directory. The App Router, introduced in Next.js 13, modernizes routing and layout composition and brings React Server Components into the spotlight. But, does getServerSideProps still serve a purpose in this new landscape?

The Role of getServerSideProps in Next.js App Router

With the App Router’s release, many developers questioned if classic data-fetching patterns like getServerSideProps still fit. The answer is nuanced. While the App Router encourages newer, React-centric methods such as using async server components, understanding getServerSideProps remains crucial—especially for maintaining or migrating legacy projects or when you need granular SSR control.

So, how does getServerSideProps interact with the App Router? As of Next.js 13 and above, getServerSideProps is intended for use with the Pages Router (pages/). The App Router (app/) introduces its own server-side data-fetching, primarily through async functions within server components or by using fetch requests in layout or page files.

Industry experts, including Guillermo Rauch (CEO of Vercel), have emphasized this evolution, positioning the App Router as the future of data-fetching and SSR. However, countless real-world projects still leverage the predictable reliability of getServerSideProps, and understanding both paradigms enables you to choose the best approach for lasting performance and scalability.

Key Benefits of getServerSideProps in Web Development

Why has getServerSideProps gained traction among developers and SEO specialists alike? Here are several compelling advantages:

  • Dynamic Data Fetching: Fetch fresh data at request time, enabling personalized or time-sensitive experiences.
  • Enhanced SEO: Search engines receive fully-rendered HTML, increasing visibility for dynamic content.
  • Security: Sensitive data can be handled server-side, reducing exposure in the client bundle.
  • Simplified State Management: Server-side Redux or global state can be integrated right before rendering.

These benefits are especially vital in content-heavy sites, user dashboards, and platforms where real-time updates drive user engagement.

How to Use getServerSideProps with Next.js App Router: Step-by-Step Guide

Even though getServerSideProps isn’t directly compatible with the App Router’s /app directory, understanding both patterns—and how to migrate—will cover you for greenfield projects and mature codebases alike.

Step 1: Recognize When to Use Pages vs. App Router

If your project demands classic SSR with getServerSideProps, stick to the /pages directory. For cutting-edge projects using the /app directory, use async server components for SSR. For legacy support or specific endpoints, you can mix both routers in a single Next.js project.

Step 2: Implement getServerSideProps in the Pages Router

Here’s the canonical approach for getServerSideProps:

// pages/products/[id].js
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
  const { id } = context.params;
  const res = await fetch(`https://api.example.com/products/${id}`);
  const product = await res.json();
 
  return {
    props: { product }, // Passed to the component as props
  };
}
 
function ProductPage({ product }) {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{product.name}</h1>
      <p>{product.description}</p>
      {/* More product details */}
    </div>
  );
}
 
export default ProductPage;

With this setup, each visit fetches the latest product data server-side, providing an SEO-ready, always up-to-date page.

Step 3: Adopting SSR in the App Router

While getServerSideProps itself isn’t available in the /app directory, equivalent SSR can be achieved by exporting async functions in server components. Here’s a modern SSR workflow with the App Router:

// app/products/[id]/page.js
async function getProduct(id) {
  const res = await fetch(`https://api.example.com/products/${id}`, { cache: 'no-store' });
  return res.json();
}
 
export default async function ProductPage({ params }) {
  const product = await getProduct(params.id);
 
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{product.name}</h1>
      <p>{product.description}</p>
      {/* More product details */}
    </div>
  );
}

The key is the { cache: 'no-store' } fetch option, which mirrors the server-side data fetching behavior of getServerSideProps. The result: dynamic server-generated pages, ready for SEO and real-time data.

Migrating from getServerSideProps to the App Router

As official Next.js documentation and Vercel community experts recommend, future-proofing your projects means learning the new data-fetching best practices. Here’s how to migrate:

  1. Identify server-rendered routes in /pages using getServerSideProps.
  2. Move relevant logic into async server components in /app.
  3. Replace getServerSideProps with direct data fetches server-side (using the no-store cache setting).
  4. Update dynamic routing from [param].js (Pages Router) to [param]/page.js (App Router).

This process not only aligns your app with the latest Next.js standards but also unlocks performance and scalability gains associated with the App Router and React Server Components.

SEO Best Practices with getServerSideProps

One of the strongest selling points of getServerSideProps in Next.js is its impact on technical SEO. Search engines prioritize rendered HTML and metadata, both of which are generated server-side with this method. Here’s how you can further optimize your implementation:

  • Set Dynamic Metadata: Use <Head> (Pages Router) or the generateMetadata function (App Router) to inject SEO titles and descriptions.
  • Sitemap Integration: Generate and serve sitemaps dynamically, ensuring crawlers discover all SSR pages.
  • Structured Data: Inject JSON-LD structured data server-side to power rich snippets in the SERPs.
  • Performance Optimization: Leverage cache-control headers and serverless infrastructure for lightning-fast TTFB (Time to First Byte).

Industry research confirms that SSR and dynamic metadata improve click-through rates (CTR) and decrease bounce. Sites like The Washington Post, Hashnode, and e-commerce giants routinely use SSR to maintain their competitive edge.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Relying solely on getServerSideProps can introduce performance challenges if not managed carefully:

  • API Call Latency: Each request triggers a fresh fetch; consider caching common queries.
  • Heavy Operations: Offload intensive work to background jobs for responsiveness.
  • Serverless Bandwidth Costs: Monitor usage if deploying on Vercel’s edge infrastructure to avoid surprises.

Transitioning to the App Router mitigates some of these pitfalls via enhanced server component caching and streaming, making the learning curve well worth it.

Real-World Use Case: Personalized Dashboards

A compelling use case for getServerSideProps (and its App Router equivalents) is personalized user dashboards. Imagine a SaaS analytics platform delivering bespoke metrics, notifications, and reports per user. By fetching user-specific data with getServerSideProps, each dashboard view is secure, up-to-date, and performant. This translates directly to higher customer satisfaction and increased platform stickiness.

Switching to the App Router amplifies these benefits. With server components, you can seamlessly inject authenticated server data, utilize suspense for loading states, and maintain rapid navigation through the React tree.

Expert Tips to Master getServerSideProps in Next.js

  1. Leverage Context: The context object in getServerSideProps provides access to parameters, query strings, cookies, and even request headers—useful for localization, session validation, and more.
  2. Combine with Middleware: Secure your SSR endpoints by running authentication checks via Next.js middleware before rendering.
  3. Minimize Fetches: Only fetch what you need per render; use granular endpoints to avoid over-fetching and reduce TTFB.
  4. Test for Scalability: Use load testing tools to ensure your SSR strategy can handle peak loads without bottlenecking.

By combining strategic use of getServerSideProps with a thoughtful migration toward the App Router’s server component patterns, you position your Next.js applications for long-term resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions about getServerSideProps and Next.js App Router

Q: Is getServerSideProps deprecated with the Next.js App Router? A: No, but it’s intended for the Pages Router. As the App Router becomes standard, equivalent SSR should use async server components.

Q: Can I use getServerSideProps in /app routes? A: No, use server components with async data fetching and the no-store cache policy instead for server-side rendering.

Q: How does this approach affect SEO? A: Both getServerSideProps (Pages Router) and async server components (App Router) render HTML server-side, preserving SEO benefits.

Conclusion: Embracing the Next.js Data Fetching Evolution

Knowing how to use getServerSideProps with Next.js App Router—or, more accurately, its App Router equivalents—empowers you to harness SSR’s power in both legacy and cutting-edge projects. Whether you maintain a mature platform on the Pages Router or build tomorrow’s apps with the App Router and server components, mastery over these patterns equips you for future scalability, performance, and SEO success.

To stay ahead, regularly follow updates in the Next.js documentation, explore community forums, and benchmark your implementation to industry standards. The ecosystem shifts rapidly, but solid data-fetching fundamentals will keep your Next.js apps robust, discoverable, and user-friendly.

Remember: while getServerSideProps defined an era, the creative application of server components signals the next. Adapt, explore, and elevate your Next.js projects with confidence, knowing that server-side rendering—and its role in dynamic, SEO-friendly applications—remains as important as ever.