WebSocket
Definition.
WebSocket: A computer communications protocol, providing full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection.
In More Detail
A WebSocket keeps a single connection open for two-way messages, so the server can push without the client asking. That is the difference between real-time and polling, and it removes both the delay and the wasted requests.
The cost is that connections are stateful, which complicates scaling — you need a shared backend such as Redis pub/sub so a message published on one server reaches clients connected to another. Reconnection logic also becomes your problem, because mobile networks drop connections constantly and the user should never see it.
In Practice
This is what powers real-time features like live chat or live session tracking — I've used it (via Django Channels or a service like Agora) for exactly this kind of real-time requirement in production apps.
Related Terms
Browse the full software development glossary, or see the frequently asked questions.
If you are working out whether this applies to your own project, the case studies show where it turned up in real builds, services lists what I take on, and pricing gives the starting figures.
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