Setting Up Server Side Rendering With Angular Universal

Angular Universal provides a powerful feature called Server Side Rendering (SSR) that can enhance the performance and search engine optimization of your Angular applications. In this article, we will discuss how to set up Server Side Rendering with Angular Universal to take your web development to the next level.

First things first, why should you care about Server Side Rendering? The main advantage of SSR is that it allows your Angular application to be rendered on the server rather than the client's browser. This means that users will see the content faster on the initial page load, leading to improved user experience and SEO rankings.

To get started with setting up Server Side Rendering with Angular Universal, you need to follow these steps:

1. Install Angular Universal: You can add Angular Universal to your existing Angular project by running the following command in your project directory:

ng add @nguniversal/express-engine

This command will install all the necessary dependencies and set up Angular Universal in your project.

2. Create Universal App: Once Angular Universal is installed, you need to generate a Universal app using the following CLI command:

ng generate universal --clientProject [your-project-name]

Replace `[your-project-name]` with the name of your Angular project. This command will generate the necessary files and configurations for Server Side Rendering.

3. Build Your Application: To build your Universal app, run the following command:

npm run build:ssr

This command will build your Angular application for Server Side Rendering. Make sure there are no errors during the build process.

4. Start the Server: After building your Universal app, you can start the server to see your application in action. Use the following command:

npm run serve:ssr

This command will start a local server that serves your Angular application with Server Side Rendering enabled.

5. Test Your Application: To ensure that Server Side Rendering is working correctly, open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost:4000`. You should see your Angular application being rendered on the server.

And that's it! You have successfully set up Server Side Rendering with Angular Universal. By following these steps, you can improve the performance and SEO of your Angular applications. Keep in mind that Server Side Rendering may require additional configurations and optimizations based on your specific application requirements.

In conclusion, Server Side Rendering with Angular Universal is a valuable feature that can significantly enhance your web applications. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily set up Server Side Rendering and reap the benefits of improved performance and SEO for your Angular projects.