installs express for creating a simple http server installs ws library - a websocket implementation initializes node and creates a package.json file Now fire up the node terminal and go to the server directory and run the following commands one by one We will be using the ws library to create a simple chat application using websockets in NodeJS.įirst, in our project folder create two folders named client and server. So let's get right to it.įirst things first, we need to set up our development environment by installing the required files and packages and creating our workspace. Nothing like the feeling than to see it in action and better yet implementing it yourself. Sounds exciting? It does but this is all well and good in theory. This is why WebSockets have speeds 5–7 times better than traditional HTTP. Furthermore, headers in WebSockets are sent only once while sending the upgrade request.
Websockets always maintain their state (unlike HTTP, which is stateless) and utilize a full-duplex connection. For example:Įach of the above renders an enhanced user experience thanks to WebSockets. Websockets are mostly used at places where real time updates are necessary. Being a websocket connection (event-driven), the server simply pushes every new message (the event) it receives directly to the client.
For example, in a chat application you don't have to place a request for the next message every time.
Next, the websocket server waits for an event to happen and once it does it performs the function attached to the event. Once the protocol switching is successful, the http server becomes a websocket server and a persistent connection is created between the client and the server. If the server supports websockets, which these days it usually does, it will accept the request and switch the protocols from HTTP to websocket. In order to use a websocket, a client first sends a request to upgrade the server. However, this happens only at the protocol level, meaning that your underlying TCP connection will remain the same as it was when working on HTTP protocol. Whenever a websocket request is made to regular HTTP, it is actually upgraded to a websocket connection. In simple terms, websockets are an upgrade to traditional HTTP. Websockets don't require a client request to fetch data from the server every time, fulfilling the need for real-time updates. Let me introduce you to Websockets - An event-driven, web-friendly alternative to HTTP. Traditional HTTP, being dependent on client requests, is simply not capable of fulfilling this need. A seamless experience is the name of the game. In the day and age of live streaming, video conferencing, and remote work, one of the primary concerns of any user is latency.
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