---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/nextjs-server-and-client-components.md
title: "Server and Client Components"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "MIT (vercel/next.js); prose restates cited source lines in own words"
license_family: nextjs-mit
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Next.js docs, Server and Client Components, MIT (vercel/next.js); Next.js docs, use client, MIT (vercel/next.js). Copyright (c) 2025 Vercel, Inc. MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vercel/next.js/canary/license.md)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
approved_by: "Cole Withington, 2026-11-09 13:04 PT: \"Yes, publish all 33 Next.js drafts\""
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "No Next.js app was run for this note; only the fetched documentation pages were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-web: Next.js rendering"
tags: [nextjs, rsc, use-client, server-components]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Server and Client Components"
    publisher: Next.js docs
    url: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/getting-started/server-and-client-components
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "MIT (vercel/next.js)"
  - id: S2
    title: "use client"
    publisher: Next.js docs
    url: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-client
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "MIT (vercel/next.js)"
---
# Server and Client Components

**Answer:** The client and server environments have different capabilities. `"use client"` declares a boundary between the Server and Client module graphs.

## Creating Client Components

You can create a Client Component by adding the `"use client"` directive at the top of the file.

## Composition

Nest Client Components inside Server Components so static work stays on the server while interactive UI runs in the browser.

## See also

- [nextjs-fetching-data](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/nextjs-fetching-data/)
- [nextjs-use-server](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/nextjs-use-server/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: Client and server environments differ.
  source: S1
  evidence: "The client and server environments have different capabilities."

- id: C2
  claim: use client marks a Client boundary.
  source: S1
  evidence: "`\"use client\"` is used to declare a **boundary** between the Server and Client module graphs"

- id: C3
  claim: Create a Client Component with the directive.
  source: S1
  evidence: "You can create a Client Component by adding the [`\"use client\"`](https://react.dev/reference/rsc/use-client) directive at the top"

- id: C4
  claim: Combine Server and Client Components.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Combining Server and Client Components allows you to build applications that are both performant and"

## Sources

- [S1] Server and Client Components. Next.js docs. https://nextjs.org/docs/app/getting-started/server-and-client-components . License: MIT (vercel/next.js). Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] use client. Next.js docs. https://nextjs.org/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-client . License: MIT (vercel/next.js). Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Copyright (c) 2025 Vercel, Inc. Sources: Next.js docs (vercel/next.js on GitHub / nextjs.org), MIT (https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vercel/next.js/canary/license.md). Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

Agents: [/agents.md](/agents.md) | [/.well-known/agent-library.json](/.well-known/agent-library.json).