Introduction to Server and Client Components

I'm really excited to dive into Server and Client Components with you. This is one of my favorite topics in modern React and Next.js development, and it's something that's completely changed how I build web applications.

Why should you care about Server and Client Components?

You might be wondering, "Why should I care about Server and Client Components?" Well, let me tell you, they solve some of the biggest headaches we've had in web development:

• No more waiting for JavaScript to load before seeing your content
• Say goodbye to exposing sensitive data in your client-side code
• Build interactive features without sending tons of JavaScript to the browser
• Create apps that actually scale well as they grow

What We'll Cover

I've structured this module to take you from the basics to building something really cool. Here's what's in store:

1. The Basics

We'll start with the fundamentals - what Server and Client Components are and why they matter. I'll show you how they work together to create better web applications. I've created a bunch of different exercises to help you understand the concepts. Once you get a good grasp of the concepts, we'll build a real-world application together.

2. Keeping Things Secure

Security is crucial, and we'll cover how to keep your applications safe. Server Components help you avoid exposing sensitive data in your client-side code and make your application more secure. We have an exciting exercise for you to practice this.

Many of my students have shared with me that this is the moment when server components truly clicked for them during the Next.js workshop.

3. Building Something Real

We're going to build an Analytics Dashboard together called Pulse . It's a perfect project because it needs both server-side data handling and client-side interactivity. You'll learn:

• How to fetch and display data efficiently with Prisma
• Building interactive filters and search with real-time feedback
• Using useTransition for loading states
• Implementing non-blocking rendering
• Adding visual feedback to search
• Preventing scroll jumps during live search
• Building context-aware search
• Dynamic filters with URL state
• Instant filter feedback with useOptimistic
• Applying filters dynamically to visitor journeys

More importantly, you'll learn why in today's modern web, you don't need to learn on the client for building fast and interactive applications.

4. Advanced Patterns

Once you've got the basics down, we'll explore some really neat features:

• Streaming and Suspense for better loading experiences
• Partial Pre-rendering (PPR) in action
• Using Framer Motion for smooth animations
• Optimizing Core Web Vitals
• Deploying to production with best practices

You'll learn this while improving core web vitals and building production-ready applications.

Let's Get Started!

I've made sure to include plenty of hands-on exercises and real-world examples. We'll start with the basics and gradually build up to more complex concepts. By the end, you'll be able to build applications that are not just fast and secure, but also a joy to work with.

Ready to dive in? Let's go!