WebSocket
Definition
A communication protocol providing full-duplex, persistent connections between a client and server over a single TCP connection, enabling real-time data transfer.
WebSocket is a protocol that enables two-way communication between a client, typically a web browser, and a server over a single, long-lived connection. Unlike HTTP, which follows a request-response pattern where the client must initiate every interaction, WebSocket allows the server to push data to the client at any time without being asked, making it ideal for real-time applications.
A WebSocket connection begins as a standard HTTP request with an Upgrade header, after which the connection is promoted to the WebSocket protocol. Once established, both parties can send messages independently at any time with minimal overhead. The frame-based message format is significantly lighter than HTTP headers, reducing bandwidth consumption for frequent small messages.
Common use cases for WebSocket include chat applications, live sports scores, stock market tickers, multiplayer games, collaborative document editing, and IoT device monitoring. Alternatives for real-time communication include Server-Sent Events for one-way server-to-client streaming and long polling for environments where WebSocket is not available. Libraries like Socket.io abstract over these transport mechanisms, providing automatic fallback and reconnection logic.
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Related Terms
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
techThe foundational protocol for data communication on the web, defining how messages are formatted and transmitted between clients and servers.
API (Application Programming Interface)
techA set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other and share data or functionality.
Latency
techThe time delay between a user's action and the system's response, measured in milliseconds, critical for user experience and application performance.
REST API
techAn architectural style for web services that uses standard HTTP methods to create, read, update, and delete resources, providing a stateless communication interface.
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