Progressive Enhancement with Server Actions
Build forms that work without JavaScript using Server Actions and enhance them with React when JS loads.
What Is Progressive Enhancement
Progressive enhancement is a web development strategy where you start with a working HTML baseline and layer JavaScript capabilities on top. The core functionality works for all users, including those with JavaScript disabled, slow connections, or assistive technologies, while JavaScript-enabled users get an enhanced experience.
The Non-JS Baseline
A form with action={serverAction} works as a full-page HTML POST even without JavaScript. The browser submits the form, the server executes the action, and the server returns an updated HTML page. This is the same mechanism that has powered web forms since 1995 — React's Server Actions are compatible with it by design.
All lessons in this course
- Server Actions in React 19 and Next.js
- Form Actions: Replacing API Routes for Mutations
- useActionState and useFormStatus
- Progressive Enhancement with Server Actions