---
title: "Rendering engines"
slug: "rendering-engines"
abstract: "Use rendering engines to server-side render headless applications"
---
# Rendering engines

Rendering engines render content and layout data returned by the Sitecore Layout Service from a Sitecore instance.

Within the Sitecore Headless Services module, Sitecore provides two implementations of a rendering engine:

- The [Node.js rendering engine](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/node-js-rendering-engine.html "Node.js rendering engine"), enabled by default. You can use this rendering engine for server-side rendering of JavaScript applications built with the [Sitecore JavaScript Services SDK (JSS)](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/sitecore-javascript-services-sdk--jss-.html "Sitecore JavaScript Services SDK (JSS)") for React, Angular, and Vue.js.
- The [HTTP rendering engine](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/http-rendering-engine.html "HTTP rendering engine"), available only in Sitecore 9.1.1 and later. This rendering engine is used by applications built with [JSS for Next.js](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/sitecore-javascript-rendering-sdk--jss--for-next-js.html "Sitecore JavaScript Rendering SDK (JSS) for Next.js") or the [Sitecore ASP.NET Rendering SDK (legacy)](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/sitecore-asp-net-rendering-sdk--legacy-.html "Sitecore ASP.NET Rendering SDK (legacy)").

## Rendering engines and the ASP.NET Rendering SDK

When working with the ASP.NET Rendering SDK, you must perform some configuration to use the Rendering Engine with your application.

For details, refer to the [using the Rendering Engine with the ASP.NET Rendering SDK](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/asp-net-core-rendering-engine.html "ASP.NET Core Rendering Engine").

## Rendering engines and JSS

To learn more about how to use rendering engines with JSS, refer to [Rendering engines and JSS](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/hd/23/sitecore-headless-development/rendering-engines-and-jss.html "Rendering engines and JSS").

> [!tip]
> If you are using SXA, you can configure a rendering engine in the settings of your SXA collection of Headless Sites with the help of the Server side rendering engine field.