Data Fetching with getStaticProps and getServerSideProps Quiz Quiz

Challenge your understanding of static and server-side data fetching methods, their uses, limitations, and behavior. Sharpen your knowledge on key differences, performance, and when to use each method in modern web development.

1. Static Generation Scenario

   When building a blog where all posts are known at build time and do not frequently change, which data fetching method should be used to maximize performance?

   1. getUpdateProps
   2. getStaticProps
   3. getDynamicProps
   4. getServerSideProps

   Explanation: getStaticProps is ideal in situations where content is generated at build time and does not change frequently, resulting in fast and efficient delivery. getServerSideProps would cause the page to regenerate on every request, which is unnecessary and less performant for this use case. getUpdateProps and getDynamicProps are incorrect options—these are not valid data fetching methods and do not exist in standard usage.

2. Run Timing Difference

   Which statement correctly describes when getServerSideProps is executed compared to getStaticProps?

   1. getStaticProps runs on every user request; getServerSideProps runs just once at build time.
   2. getServerSideProps runs on deploy, and getStaticProps runs on every revalidate.
   3. getServerSideProps runs on every request, while getStaticProps runs only at build time.
   4. Both methods run only when the component mounts on the client side.

   Explanation: getServerSideProps is executed on the server with every incoming page request, making it suitable for always-up-to-date data. In contrast, getStaticProps runs only during the build process, generating static HTML. The other options mistakenly switch the timing or location of execution—neither method runs on the client side, and there is no method where the run frequency is reversed as described.

3. Parameter Support

   Which data fetching method allows access to route parameters for dynamic pages generated at request time?

   1. getPreloadProps
   2. getBuildProps
   3. getServerSideProps
   4. getSingletonProps

   Explanation: getServerSideProps supports accessing route parameters at runtime, making it suitable for dynamic content where page data depends on the request. getBuildProps, getSingletonProps, and getPreloadProps are not valid methods and do not exist as standardized data fetching methods, so they cannot provide this feature.

4. Revalidation and Freshness

   How can you ensure that a statically generated page using getStaticProps fetches fresh data at a defined interval after build?

   1. By setting a revalidate property in the return value of getStaticProps
   2. By calling getServerSideProps instead
   3. By setting prefetch to false in getStaticProps
   4. By using the fetchAgain property in getStaticProps

   Explanation: The revalidate property enables Incremental Static Regeneration by specifying an interval (in seconds) to refresh the static page. Simply switching to getServerSideProps will force regeneration on every request, which may not meet the desired interval. fetchAgain and prefetch are not valid configuration fields in getStaticProps, so those options will not work.

5. Client Context Limitation

   Which limitation applies equally to both getStaticProps and getServerSideProps regarding access to browser-specific objects?

   1. Only getServerSideProps can use window, while getStaticProps cannot.
   2. getStaticProps can access localStorage, but getServerSideProps cannot.
   3. Both can use window and document during page rendering.
   4. Neither can access browser-specific objects like window or document since both run on the server.

   Explanation: Neither getStaticProps nor getServerSideProps has access to browser objects such as window or document, as both methods execute exclusively on the server side. The option stating that getServerSideProps can use window is incorrect, as is the suggestion that both methods have browser access. Access to localStorage is also not possible in either method, so those distractors are invalid.