Server-side rendering (SSR) in React.js is the process where a client-side written application is rendered on the server-side and sent to the client as a fully rendered page. It allows a user’s browser to fetch data much faster compared to a purely client-side application.
Hydration is the process where the client-side React.js code picks up where the SSR left off and attaches event listeners to the already server-rendered HTML. Once the hydration process is complete, the application functions as a fully client-side rendered React application.
In simpler terms, “hydrate” is a function that is used to ensure that the structure and behavior of client-side rendered components align with the server-side rendered HTML.
The purpose of hydration is to allow React to successfully resume where it stopped when the server-provided HTML was generated. It aims to connect the two operations smoothly, so there’s no distinctions or mismatches in the user interface.
