What is a WebSocket? - Definition & Meaning
Learn what WebSocket is, how full-duplex communication works, and why WebSockets are essential for real-time applications like chat and notifications.
Definition
WebSocket is a communication protocol that opens a persistent, full-duplex connection between client and server. This allows both parties to send data simultaneously without needing to make repeated HTTP requests.
Technical explanation
The WebSocket protocol (RFC 6455) starts with an HTTP upgrade handshake: the client sends an Upgrade: websocket header, and upon acceptance, the TCP connection is promoted to a WebSocket connection. Once open, both client and server can independently send messages (frames). The protocol supports text and binary frames, ping/pong heartbeats for connectivity checks, and close frames for graceful disconnection. WebSocket runs on port 80 (ws://) or 443 (wss:// with TLS). Unlike HTTP polling or long polling, where the client repeatedly sends requests, WebSocket maintains a single connection with minimal overhead. Socket.IO is a popular library that enhances WebSocket with automatic reconnection, room-based broadcasting, and fallback mechanisms. Server-Sent Events (SSE) is a simpler alternative for unidirectional server-to-client communication. At scale, applications use Redis pub/sub or a dedicated message broker to distribute WebSocket messages across multiple server instances. Proxies and load balancers must be correctly configured for WebSocket connections due to their long-lived nature.
How MG Software applies this
MG Software implements WebSockets in client projects requiring real-time functionality, such as live dashboards, chat features, and collaboration tools. We use Supabase Realtime for database-driven live updates and Socket.IO for more complex real-time scenarios. This provides our clients with an immediate, interactive user experience.
Practical examples
- A customer service platform with live chat where messages are exchanged in real-time between customer and agent via WebSocket, with no noticeable delay.
- A financial dashboard updating live stock prices and charts via WebSocket so traders always see current information.
- A collaborative document editor (similar to Google Docs) synchronizing changes from multiple users in real-time via WebSocket.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
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