Introduction to WebSockets and Socket.IO
WebSockets and Socket.IO are essential technologies for enabling real-time, bi-directional communication between a client and server.
1. What are WebSockets?
WebSockets are a communication protocol that establishes a persistent, full-duplex connection between the client and server over a single TCP connection.
Features of WebSockets:
- Bi-directional communication (client ↔ server).
- Reduced latency compared to HTTP requests.
- Low overhead with minimal protocol framing.
- Suitable for applications requiring real-time updates, like chat apps or live dashboards.
How WebSockets Work:
2. Limitations of WebSockets
While powerful, WebSockets have limitations:
3. What is Socket.IO?
Socket.IO is a Node.js library built on WebSockets, designed to simplify real-time communication. It includes features beyond raw WebSockets:
Advantages of Socket.IO:
4. How Socket.IO Works
Socket.IO operates on two components:
Installation:
npm install socket.io