LESSON 2.1
What server components actually do
Learn key techniques and workflows in Next.js App Router in Depth.
15m
intermediate
15,413 students
Overview
Server components run on the server and send rendered output rather than code. That is why they can read a database directly and why they add nothing to your bundle.
In this lesson you will:
- Render on the server and ship no component code to the client
- Read data and secrets directly, without an API round trip
- Understand why server components cannot hold state or effects
Pro Tip
Use caching and revalidation wisely to ensure your app stays fast and data remains fresh without unnecessary requests.