Definition:
Jamstack is a web application development architecture that is based on the delivery of static content through a CDN (Content Delivery Network). This architecture is characterized by separating application logic and content management from visual presentation, allowing greater scalability, security and loading speed.
Jamstack can be thought of as the opposite of a traditional server environment where developers typically code in server-side languages, such as PHP or Ruby, and then upload the resulting files to a server.
Jamstack Components
The term “Jamstack” is an acronym that refers to the three main layers of this architecture: JavaScript, APIs and Markup. Specifically, these layers are divided as follows:
- JavaScript: It is responsible for the logic of the application and the interaction with the user. In a Jamstack application, this logic is executed on the client side (i.e. in the user’s browser) by using JavaScript frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular or Vue.js.
- APIs: They are responsible for the management of the data and business logic of the application. In a Jamstack application, these functionalities are implemented through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that can be invoked from the JavaScript layer through HTTP requests.
- Markup: It is responsible for the visual presentation of the application. In a Jamstack application, this layer is implemented using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that are delivered over a CDN and rendered directly in the user’s browser.
Advantages of Jamstack
With jamstack, all website code runs entirely on client-side scripts, which are executed by the browser. This means that jamstack websites have many advantages over traditional web development approaches.
- It’s much faster than traditional web development approaches, as all the code runs in the browser. By eliminating the need for server-side processing, jamstack websites can load and respond almost instantly, even under heavy loads or with large amounts of traffic.
- It offers greater security and less risk of being infected by computer viruses. As jamstack websites run entirely in the browser, there is no need to manage servers or databases, meaning the code is not exposed to potential vulnerabilities or threats.
- It’s easier to scale the web as your traffic grows or changes over time. Since jamstack is hosted entirely in the cloud, you can easily increase your resources or move your site to a different hosting with just a few clicks.