How to Implement React Server Components

React is constantly evolving, and one of the most exciting advancements in recent years is the introduction of React Server Components (RSC). Designed to improve performance and developer experience, Server Components are a new way to build modern, dynamic applications by moving part of your component logic to the server.

If you’re a beginner to this concept or just curious about what all the fuss is about, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with React Server Components.

What are React Server Components?

React Server Components (RSCs) are a type of component that runs only on the server. They allow you to fetch data, perform backend operations, or render complex logic — all without sending unnecessary JavaScript to the browser.

Traditionally, React apps are rendered either entirely on the client (CSR) or server-rendered using frameworks like Next.js (SSR). RSCs combine the best of both worlds by enabling:

* Zero client-side JavaScript for server components

* Smaller bundle sizes

* Faster load times

* Seamless integration with client components

Prerequisites

To use React Server Components, you'll need:

* React 18 or later

* A framework that supports RSC (like Next.js 13+ with the app directory)

* Basic knowledge of React and components

Server vs Client Components: What’s the Difference?

Getting Started with React Server Components (Using Next.js 13+)

Let’s walk through how to implement Server Components in a real app using Next.js, which is the first framework to fully support RSCs.

Step 1: Create a Next.js Project

npx create-next-app@latest my-rsc-app --experimental-app
cd my-rsc-app

Make sure you select App Router when prompted — this is required for RSCs.

Step 2: Create a Server Component

In the app/ directory, create a file like this:

// app/components/PostList.server.jsx
// This is a Server Component
export default async function PostList() {
  const res = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts');
  const posts = await res.json();
  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Blog Posts</h2>
      <ul>
        {posts.slice(0, 5).map((post) => (
          <li key={post.id}>
            <strong>{post.title}</strong>
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );

Note: You don’t need useEffect or useState here — this component fetches data on the server and sends the final HTML to the browser.

Step 3: Use the Server Component in a Page

Now import and use PostList in your page:

// app/page.jsx
import PostList from './components/PostList.server';
export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main style={{ padding: '20px' }}>
      <h1>Welcome to My RSC App</h1>
      <PostList />
    </main>
  );
}

That’s it! When you visit the page, the data is fetched on the server, rendered as HTML, and sent to the browser with zero JavaScript.

Mixing Server and Client Components

Sometimes you’ll need interactivity (like buttons, forms, or modals) — that’s where Client Components come in.

Step 4: Create a Client Component

// app/components/Counter.client.jsx
'use client';
import { useState } from 'react';
export default function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}

Then use it inside a Server Component:

// app/page.jsx
import PostList from './components/PostList.server';
import Counter from './components/Counter.client';
export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>React Server Components Demo</h1>
      <Counter />
      <PostList />
    </main>
  );
}

By combining both types of components, you keep your bundle size small and performance high, while still offering interactivity.

Benefits of Server Components

* Performance

Server Components only send HTML — not JavaScript — to the client, resulting in faster load times.

* Smaller Bundles

Because logic stays on the server, there's less JS to download.

* Improved Developer Experience

Write backend logic (like fetching from a database) directly in your component.

* Built for Modern Apps

Works seamlessly with React Suspense, streaming, and concurrent features.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

* You can’t use hooks like useState or useEffect in Server Components.

* Server Components cannot access browser APIs like window, localStorage, etc.

* Debugging can feel different at first since logic runs on the server.

Conclusion

React Server Components are a major step forward in the evolution of React. By allowing you to shift logic and rendering to the server, they help create faster, leaner, and more scalable applications.

If you're using Next.js 13+ or planning a new project, it’s the perfect time to explore RSCs. Start small by converting some components to Server Components — and enjoy the performance boost and cleaner architecture!

To read more about An Overview of Various Techniques for Styling React Components, refer to our blog An Overview of Various Techniques for Styling React Components.