Introduction
Data fetching is central to modern web development, especially in performance-critical applications. With the release of Next.js 15, developers can take full advantage of server components and advanced data-fetching patterns like sequential and parallel fetching to streamline performance and user experience.
This article explores both patterns with real-world examples, TypeScript usage, and analysis of when to use each approach.
What is Sequential Data Fetching?
Sequential fetching refers to fetching data one after another, where each fetch waits for the previous one to complete. This is helpful when the second dataset depends on the result of the first.
Example of Sequential Fetching in Next.js
This Next.js example showcases sequential data fetching: the page first loads all post titles, and then, for each individual post, an AuthorComponent
is rendered. Crucially, each AuthorComponent
introduces a simulated 3-second delay before fetching author details, and is wrapped in React's Suspense to display a "Loading author..." fallback. This results in a user experience where post titles appear quickly, followed by individual author placeholders that progressively resolve into names as each author's data (and the simulated delay) completes, providing a staggered loading effect.
// page.tsx
const PostSequential = async () => {
const posts = await fetch(`https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts`).then(res => res.json());
return (
<div>
{posts.map(post => (
<div key={post.id}>
<h2>{post.title}</h2>
<Suspense fallback={<span>Loading author...</span>}>
<AuthorComponent id={post.id} />
</Suspense>
</div>
))}
</div>
);
};
const AuthorComponent = async ({ id }: { id: number }) => {
await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 3000));
const user: UserProps = await fetch(
`https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users/${id}`
).then((res) => res.json());
return <p className="text-sm text-gray-500 mt-4">Author: {user?.name}</p>;
};
β Advantages | β Disadvantages |
---|---|
π Maintains dependency order | π Slower overall loading times |
π§© Easier debugging for dependent logic | π§ Creates "waterfalls" in rendering |
π§ Ideal for conditional or step-wise fetching | π Poor user experience for independent data |
π οΈ Better control over fetch flow and logic | π Inefficient resource usage (wasted wait time) |
π Useful when one fetch relies on previous data | π΅ Can't leverage concurrent server resources |
π Simplifies state tracking in some cases | π Can lead to nested logic and complexity |
Advantages of Sequential Fetching
- Maintains dependency order
- Easier debugging for dependent logic
- Ideal for conditional fetching
Disadvantages of Sequential Fetching
- Slower overall loading times
- Creates waterfalls in rendering
- Poor user experience for independent data
What is Parallel Data Fetching?
Parallel fetching initiates multiple data requests at the same time, improving performance by reducing wait times. Ideal for fetching independent data.
Example of Parallel Fetching in Next.js
In this example, the UserParallel
server component demonstrates parallel data fetching by simultaneously initiating two asynchronous calls: getUserAlbums()
and getUserPosts()
, both of which include a simulated 3-second delay. Instead of waiting for each fetch sequentially (which would total ~6 seconds), the component uses Promise.all()
to execute both functions in parallel, reducing the overall wait time to just ~3 seconds. This improves performance significantly, especially when fetching multiple independent resources. Once both promises resolve, the UI displays the albums and posts side-by-side in a responsive layout. This pattern is ideal when the fetched data is independent and can be rendered concurrently, ensuring better responsiveness and user experience.
import React from "react";
// Define the types for your data
type PostProps = {
userId: number;
id: number;
title: string;
body: string;
};
type AlbumProps = {
userId: number;
id: number;
title: string;
};
// Define the props for the UserParallel component
type UserParallelProps = {
params: Promise<{ userId: string }>; // Assuming params is directly an object, common in Next.js
};
const UserParallel = async ({ params }: UserParallelProps) => {
const { userId } = await params; // Access userId directly from params
// Function to fetch user albums with proper URL and error handling
const getUserAlbums = async (id: string): Promise<AlbumProps[]> => {
try {
await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 3000));
const res = await fetch(
`https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/albums?userId=${id}`
);
if (!res.ok) {
throw new Error(`Failed to fetch albums: ${res.statusText}`);
}
return res.json();
} catch (error) {
console.error("Error fetching albums:", error);
return []; // Return an empty array on error
}
};
// Function to fetch user posts with proper URL and error handling
const getUserPosts = async (id: string): Promise<PostProps[]> => {
try {
await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 3000));
const res = await fetch(
`https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts?userId=${id}`
);
if (!res.ok) {
throw new Error(`Failed to fetch posts: ${res.statusText}`);
}
return res.json();
} catch (error) {
console.error("Error fetching posts:", error);
return []; // Return an empty array on error
}
};
// Initiate both fetch calls in parallel
const albumDataPromise = getUserAlbums(userId);
const postsDataPromise = getUserPosts(userId);
// Wait for both promises to resolve
const [albums, posts] = await Promise.all([
albumDataPromise,
postsDataPromise,
]);
return (
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4 p-4">
<div className="bg-gray-100 p-4 rounded-lg shadow-md">
<h2 className="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Albums</h2>
{albums.length > 0 ? (
<ul>
{albums.map((album) => (
<li key={album.id} className="mb-2 p-2 bg-white rounded-md">
<p className="font-semibold">{album.title}</p>
</li>
))}
</ul>
) : (
<p>No albums found for this user.</p>
)}
</div>
<div className="bg-gray-100 p-4 rounded-lg shadow-md">
<h2 className="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Posts</h2>
{posts.length > 0 ? (
<ul>
{posts.map((post) => (
<li key={post.id} className="mb-2 p-2 bg-white rounded-md">
<h3 className="text-lg font-semibold">{post.title}</h3>
<p className="text-sm text-gray-700">{post.body}</p>
</li>
))}
</ul>
) : (
<p>No posts found for this user.</p>
)}
</div>
</div>
);
};
export default UserParallel;
β Advantages | β Disadvantages |
---|---|
β‘ Faster overall data retrieval | π Harder to manage data dependencies |
β±οΈ Reduced latency leads to better user experience | π¦ Cannot conditionally skip unnecessary fetches |
π§ Ideal for independent or unrelated datasets | π§© More complex error handling and coordination |
π οΈ Utilizes server resources efficiently | π Race conditions possible without proper guards |
π Enables true concurrent rendering with <Suspense>
|
π§ͺ Testing and debugging can be more difficult |
π Improves perceived performance (UI loads quicker) | π΅οΈ Harder to trace fetch flow in deeply nested trees |
Advantages of Parallel Fetching
- Faster overall data retrieval
- Reduced latency and better UX
- Best for independent datasets
Disadvantages of Parallel Fetching
- Harder to manage dependencies
- Cannot conditionally skip unnecessary fetches
Key Differences Table
π§© Feature | π Sequential Fetching | β‘ Parallel Fetching |
---|---|---|
Execution Order | One-by-one, in strict sequence | Simultaneous, non-blocking |
Performance | Slower overall, due to request chaining | Faster, better utilization of async behavior |
Use Case | When later data depends on earlier fetches | When fetches are independent |
Logic Simplicity | Easier to understand and debug | Slightly more complex (due to Promise.all , race conditions) |
Error Handling | Easier to isolate and handle errors | Needs grouped or coordinated error strategies |
UX Impact | Slower perceived loading, especially with nested fetches | Snappier UI, especially for rendering sections independently |
Server Resource Utilization | Less efficient, uses time serially | More efficient, uses resources concurrently |
Conditional Fetch Support | Excellent, supports if-else/early returns | Limited, harder to cancel or skip once started |
Suitability with <Suspense> |
Works well for step-by-step reveals | Ideal for loading independent UI chunks in parallel |
Scalability for Large Pages | May become bottlenecked with many dependent calls | Scales better with many independent calls |
Best Practices from Official Docs
From the Next.js documentation:
- Use server components for secure, backend-close data fetching.
- Memoized
fetch
ensures no redundant calls. - Leverage
Suspense
for lazy-loading nested data. - Consider
loading.js
orPromise.all()
for optimal UX.
Real-World Use Cases
Sequential Use Case
A user profile page where the second API call depends on the user ID fetched from the first call.
Parallel Use Case
A dashboard showing metrics, charts, and notifications from multiple endpoints.
Performance Considerations
- Always prefer parallel fetching for independent data.
- Use
cache()
and preload patterns when possible. - Combine
Suspense
and server components for fine-grained control.
When to Use Which?
Use sequential when:
- There is a data dependency chain.
- You want to avoid redundant calls.
Use parallel when:
- Fetching unrelated data.
- You aim for fast, efficient rendering.
Conclusion
Understanding the trade-offs between sequential and parallel data fetching in Next.js 15 can greatly impact application performance and user experience. By identifying dependencies and structuring fetch logic accordingly, you ensure optimal rendering and responsiveness.
FAQs
Q1: Can I mix sequential and parallel fetching in the same component?
Yes. You can initiate some fetches in parallel and others sequentially based on dependencies.
Q2: Does fetch()
in Next.js automatically cache data?
Yes. In server components, fetch
is memoized and reused to prevent redundant requests.
Q3: How does Suspense
help in sequential fetching?
It allows streaming parts of the UI while waiting for slower components to resolve data.
Q4: Are these patterns only for server components?
They work best in server components, but client components can also use similar patterns with client libraries.
Q5: Is Promise.all
safe for all cases in parallel fetching?
Only if the fetches are independent. Otherwise, it can cause errors or wasted resources.
About the Author
Hi, Iβm Arfatur Rahman, a Full-Stack Developer from Chittagong, Bangladesh, specializing in AI-powered applications, RAG-based chatbots, and scalable web platforms. Iβve worked with tools like Next.js, LangChain, OpenAI, Azure, and Supabase, building everything from real-time dashboards to SaaS products with payment integration. Passionate about web development, vector databases, and AI integration, I enjoy sharing what I learn through writing and open-source work.
Connect with me:
π Portfolio
πΌ LinkedIn
π¨βπ» GitHub
βοΈ Dev.to
π Medium
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