How to Build SPAs With Angular Universal SSR

Building Single Page Applications (SPAs) with Angular Universal and Server-Side Rendering (SSR) can significantly enhance your application's performance and SEO capabilities. In this article, we will explore the essential steps and considerations required for creating SPAs using Angular Universal.

What is Angular Universal?

Angular Universal is a technology that allows you to render Angular applications on the server side. This process enables your application to deliver fully-rendered HTML pages to the client, which improves load times and enhances search engine optimization (SEO).

Benefits of Using Angular Universal for SPAs

Improved SEO: Server-side rendering allows search engines to crawl your webpages easily, leading to better indexing and higher rankings.
Faster Initial Load: By serving pre-rendered HTML, users experience quicker time-to-interactive, especially beneficial for users on slower networks.
Better Performance: Rendering on the server reduces the client's workload, allowing for smoother performance on lower-end devices.

Setting Up Your Angular Application with Universal

Follow these steps to set up Angular Universal with your existing or new Angular application:

1. Install Angular Universal

First, you need to add Angular Universal to your project. Run the following command in your terminal:

ng add @nguniversal/express-engine

This command sets up Universal in your project and installs the necessary dependencies.

2. Configure Server-Side Rendering

After installation, Angular sets up a server module and an Express server for you. Locate the generated files, which include:

server.ts: The main server file for handling requests.
app.server.module.ts: The server-side application module.

Ensure that your main application module is configured to use the server module. Here’s an example of what the server module should look like:

import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { ServerModule } from '@angular/platform-server';
import { AppModule } from './app.module';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
@NgModule({
  imports: [AppModule, ServerModule],
  bootstrap: [AppComponent],
})
export class AppServerModule {}

3. Modify routing for SSR

To ensure your routes work correctly server-side, Angular Universal requires the routes to be pre-fetched. Set up the Angular Router in your application such that it aligns with SSR.

Make use of the Angular router's `` for navigation elements and define routes in your application that support lazy loading whenever possible.

4. Building for Production

Once your application is set up and working locally, it’s time to prepare it for production. Use the following commands to build your app:

ng build --prod
ng run your-app-name:server:production

This builds both your client and server applications ready for deployment.

5. Deploying Your Application

Deployment can be accomplished on various platforms that support Node.js, such as Heroku, AWS, or Digital Ocean. Make sure to configure your server environment to start with the command:

node dist/your-app-name/server/main.js

Conclusion

Building SPAs with Angular Universal and server-side rendering can significantly boost your app’s SEO and performance. By following the steps outlined in this article, you will facilitate a smoother experience for your users and improve your application's visibility in search engines.

As you continue to develop your Angular Universal application, keep testing and optimizing for both performance and SEO best practices. Happy coding!

How to Build SPAs With Angular Universal SSR