This post is a collaboration with BeyondSpace.studio

Rendering methods in Squarespace affect everything from page speed to SEO and user experience. Squarespace uses both server-side rendering (SSR) and client-side rendering (CSR) for different types of blocks. Understanding how these work can help you make informed decisions about which blocks to use and what to expect in terms of performance.

What is Server-Side Rendering (SSR)?

With server-side rendering (SSR), the content is generated by the server before being sent to the browser. This means when a user visits a page, they receive a fully rendered HTML document, with all necessary content already in place. JavaScript may enhance the page with additional interactions, but the core content is visible immediately.

✅ Benefits of SSR:

• Faster initial load times since the browser doesn’t have to fetch data separately.

• Better for SEO because search engines can index content directly without executing JavaScript.

• More reliable performance, as content appears even if JavaScript fails to load.

❌ Drawbacks:

• SSR increases server load since each request must be processed before sending the page.

• Rendering complex, content-heavy pages can take longer compared to client-side rendering.

• Pages rely on full reloads for updates, making them less dynamic.

• Interactive elements are limited until the page fully loads.

How Squarespace Uses SSR: Summary Block

The Summary Block (used to display blog posts, events, or other collection items) is an example of Squarespace leveraging SSR.

• The server generates and delivers the entire collection list as part of the initial page load.

• JavaScript is then triggered to apply styling and interactivity, such as hover effects or pagination.

• The content is immediately available—users don’t have to wait for it to load dynamically.

This means that even if a visitor has JavaScript disabled, they will still see the content, making SSR a more robust option for content-heavy blocks.

What is Client-Side Rendering (CSR)?

With client-side rendering (CSR), the browser initially loads only a minimal HTML structure, and JavaScript is responsible for fetching and displaying the content dynamically. This approach reduces the initial page size, but it also means users may experience a delay while content loads.

✅ Benefits of CSR:

• More efficient for large datasets because only the necessary data is fetched as needed.

• Better for interactive applications, allowing for dynamic updates without refreshing the page.

• Lighter initial load, improving performance for first-time visitors.

❌ Drawbacks:

• Longer perceived load times, as content appears only after JavaScript finishes loading and processing.

• SEO challenges, since search engines may struggle to index dynamically loaded content.

• Depends on network speed, meaning slower connections will take longer to fetch content.

How Squarespace Uses CSR: Calendar Block

The Calendar Block (used to display event or blog listings) is an example of CSR in Squarespace.

• Initially, only the wrapper of the Calendar Block is loaded—users will see a blank structure or a small loading indicator.

• JavaScript then fetches the event data over the internet, meaning the loading speed depends on the user’s network connection.

• Once the data is retrieved, it is parsed into the calendar cells and displayed as event items.

• This process repeats each time the user navigates to the next or previous month, meaning there’s a slight delay every time a new month is viewed.

CSR makes sense for the Calendar Block because it allows events to be updated dynamically without requiring the entire page to reload. However, it also means that initial loading takes longer compared to SSR blocks like the Summary Block.

Comparison: SSR vs. CSR in Squarespace

Boost SEO with SSR and Synced Blocks

When it comes to SEO, server-side rendering (SSR) has a clear advantage because content is immediately available to search engines. This is where the Synced Blocks plugin makes a difference. Unlike dynamically loaded content, Synced Blocks ensure that reusable content is rendered directly in the page’s HTML, making it easier for Google to index.

Studies suggest that Google takes up to 9X longer to crawl JavaScript-based content compared to HTML. With Synced Blocks, you eliminate that delay while also streamlining content management. By embedding reusable content blocks directly into the page’s HTML, Synced Blocks ensure faster indexing, consistent branding across multiple pages, and improved visibility and SERP rankings.

Conclusion

Both client-side rendering (CSR) and server-side rendering (SSR) play a key role in how content loads on your Squarespace website, each with its own advantages and limitations. While you can’t change Squarespace’s built-in rendering methods, understanding how they work helps you make smarter choices when selecting content blocks and third-party plugins. By choosing the right approach for your needs, you can optimize performance, improve SEO, and enhance the overall user experience on your site.