Hydration in React/Next.js The Problem Statement Hydration is the process where a server-rendered HTML page becomes an interactive React application on the client. You hit this problem when your Next.js page loads instantly (thanks to server-side rendering) but then suddenly flickers, loses state, or feels janky as JavaScript kicks in. Sound familiar? You’ve likely seen the dreaded “hydration mismatch” warning in your console. It happens because the static HTML the server sent doesn’t perfectly match the React tree the browser tries to build. Why does this matter? Because without proper hydration, your app can break functionality like click handlers, form inputs, or third-party widgets that rely on client-side JavaScript. The Core Explanation Hydration is the bridge between static HTML and dynamic React. Here’s how it works in three steps: Server sends dry HTML : Next.js renders your React components on the server, producing plain HTML with no JavaScript.…