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Dharan Ganesan
Dharan Ganesan

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Day 79: WebSockets

#webdev #frontend #100daysofcode #html

What Are WebSockets?

WebSockets are a powerful communication protocol that provides full-duplex communication channels over a single, long-lived connection between the client and the server. Unlike traditional HTTP requests, WebSockets establish a persistent connection that allows for bidirectional, low-latency communication. This real-time capability makes WebSockets ideal for applications that require live updates, such as chat applications, multiplayer games, real-time analytics, and collaborative tools.

Why Use WebSockets in Web Applications?

  1. Real-Time Updates: WebSockets enable instant data transmission, allowing clients to receive live updates without continuously polling the server.

  2. Reduced Latency: The persistent connection minimizes latency by eliminating the overhead of establishing new connections for each request.

  3. Efficient Communication: WebSockets use a lightweight protocol, reducing unnecessary data transfers and making communication more efficient.

Getting Started with WebSockets

Client-Side Implementation 

// Establishing a WebSocket connection const socket = new WebSocket('wss://your-server-endpoint'); // Event listeners for WebSocket lifecycle socket.onopen = () => { console.log('WebSocket connection established.'); }; socket.onmessage = (event) => { const message = event.data; console.log('Received message:', message); }; socket.onclose = (event) => { if (event.wasClean) { console.log('WebSocket connection closed cleanly.'); } else { console.error('WebSocket connection interrupted.'); } }; // Sending data to the server const messageToSend = 'Hello, Server!'; socket.send(messageToSend);
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Server-Side Implementation

The server-side implementation varies depending on the technology stack. Here's an example using Node.js with the ws package:

const WebSocket = require('ws'); const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 8080 }); wss.on('connection', (ws) => { ws.on('message', (message) => { console.log(`Received: ${message}`); ws.send('Message received!'); }); });
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Tips

  1. Handling Errors: Implement error handling for scenarios like dropped connections, server unavailability, or timeouts to ensure robustness.

  2. Security Considerations: Use secure WebSocket connections (WSS) to encrypt data and prevent security vulnerabilities.

  3. Scalability: Consider load balancing and optimizing server infrastructure for handling increased WebSocket connections.

  4. Protocol Selection: Evaluate WebSocket sub-protocols for enhancing security or adding custom functionalities.

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