How do I make my Nuxt app (v3) serve .mjs.br (brotli) files instead of the regular .mjs files? (Text compression)

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05-10-2024

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Optimizing Your Nuxt 3 App: Serving .mjs.br (Brotli) Files for Faster Loading

Nuxt 3 offers an incredible developer experience, but even the most optimized code can benefit from efficient delivery. One powerful technique to speed up page load times is using Brotli compression for your JavaScript (.mjs) files. This article will guide you through the process of setting up Brotli compression for your Nuxt 3 application.

The Problem:

By default, Nuxt 3 serves your JavaScript files as standard .mjs files. While this works, it can lead to larger file sizes, increasing loading times and impacting user experience.

The Solution:

Brotli is a modern compression algorithm that often offers significantly better compression rates than gzip, leading to smaller file sizes and faster downloads. We can configure Nuxt 3 to automatically serve Brotli-compressed versions of our .mjs files with the .mjs.br extension.

Implementation:

1. Install the necessary package:

   npm install --save-dev @nuxt/nitro-express
   

2. Configure your nuxt.config.ts file:

   export default defineNuxtConfig({
     // ...other configurations
     nitro: {
       // ...other nitro options
       compress: {
         // Enable Brotli compression for .mjs files
         brotli: {
           // Set the file extensions to compress
           extensions: ['.mjs'], 
           // Specify the output extension for Brotli compressed files
           outputExtension: '.mjs.br',
         },
       },
     },
   })
   

Explanation:

• The @nuxt/nitro-express package provides the necessary functionalities for customizing server-side functionalities within Nuxt 3.
• In the nitro configuration section, we enable compression using compress: true.
• We then configure the brotli option to specify the file extensions we want to compress (.mjs) and the desired output extension (.mjs.br).

Benefits of using Brotli compression:

• Faster loading times: Smaller file sizes translate to quicker downloads, improving page load speed.
• Improved user experience: Users experience a smoother browsing experience with reduced loading times.
• Lower bandwidth consumption: Compressed files consume less bandwidth, potentially saving on hosting costs.

Additional Tips:

• Optimize your JavaScript code: Before implementing Brotli compression, ensure your code is already optimized for size. Minifying and tree-shaking can significantly reduce the initial file size, making Brotli even more effective.
• Enable gzip compression as a fallback: While Brotli offers better compression, some older browsers may not support it. Ensure your server also serves gzip-compressed files as a fallback to provide compatibility.
• Monitor your results: Track the performance of your website after implementing Brotli compression. Use tools like Lighthouse to analyze your website speed and identify areas for further optimization.

Conclusion:

By serving Brotli-compressed .mjs files, you can significantly improve the loading speed of your Nuxt 3 application. This optimization delivers a smoother user experience, reduces bandwidth usage, and contributes to a more efficient website. Remember to analyze your results and consider additional optimization strategies to maximize your website's performance.