What is Astro?

Astro is a web framework designed specifically for building high-performance content-driven websites. Unlike traditional JavaScript frameworks, Astro takes a unique approach by generating static HTML by default, resulting in incredibly fast page loads and improved SEO performance. It acts as a specialised tool that excels at delivering content-first experiences without the overhead of unnecessary JavaScript.

When to choose Astro over Next.js

While we use both Astro and Next.js at Inlight, they serve different purposes:

Choose Astro for:

• Content-driven (like blogs, marketing sites, or documentation)
• Performance and SEO
• Fast page loads with minimal JavaScript
• Out-of-the-box performance optimisation
• A cost-effective solution that's easy to maintain

Choose Next.js for:

• Web applications with complex interactivity
• Projects that require client-side functionality
• Robust built-in features for application development

The benefits for your organisation

Superior performance out of the box

Astro's approach to generating static HTML means your site starts with excellent performance metrics. By default, it ships zero JavaScript to the client, resulting in lightning-fast page loads.

Islands of interactivity

Another great feature of Astro is its islands feature. This allows you to maintain static content for most of your site while adding interactive elements where needed. This means you can keep your content pages lightweight while incorporating dynamic features like contact forms or interactive widgets only where necessary.

Seamless integration with composable tools

Astro works seamlessly with modern development tools and services:

• Vercel: Deploy with confidence using features like incremental static regeneration (ISR)
• Integrates easily with our favourite CMS platforms including Sanity, Contentful and Storyblok
• Simplify reporting, manage SEO and optimise your performance with tools like Google Analytics and Google Lighthouse

Because Astro generates static HTML, search engines can easily crawl and index your content. This, combined with its excellent performance characteristics, provides a solid foundation for your SEO.

Case study highlight

In a recent project for an Australian non-profit organisation, we chose Astro to rebuild their content-heavy website. The project requirements included:

• Maintaining excellent SEO performance
• Reducing technical debt
• Implementing a headless CMS solution
• Ensuring fast page loads across all devices

Using Astro, we were able to:

• Create a multi-page application that loads incredibly fast
• Maintain existing SEO rankings during the migration
• Implement a modern tech stack without compromising performance
• Reduce maintenance costs through simplified architecture

The result? A website that scores perfectly on Google Lighthouse tests while being easier to maintain and update.

Astro: Redefining Content-Driven Web Development

Astro is leading the way in how we approach building content-driven websites by prioritising performance through static HTML generation, minimising JavaScript, and enabling targeted interactivity only where needed. Its seamless integration with modern tools and headless CMS platforms makes it particularly valuable in a composable architecture, offering the perfect balance of simplicity, speed, and flexibility for content-focused sites where performance and SEO are priorities.

Want to learn more about how Astro could benefit your next project?

Get in touch with our team to discuss your next project