Introduction

WebSockets is a communications protocol that provides full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection. This technology was developed as part of the HTML5 initiative and is often used to build real-time web applications.

HTTP, or the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is a stateless protocol used for transferring data over the Internet. Every request and response in HTTP is isolated from each other, resulting in an overhead of information that is exchanged between the client and the server with each request. This can be inefficient in certain scenarios, such as real-time communication.

In contrast, WebSockets provide a persistent, stateful connection between the client and the server. Once the connection is established, it remains open until it’s explicitly closed or drops due to network failure. This allows for real-time, two-way communication with less overhead, making it a great choice for applications like chat systems, multiplayer games, and live updates.

The WebSocket protocol and API explained

The WebSocket protocol begins with an HTTP handshake. This starts like any HTTP request but includes an “Upgrade: websocket” header. If the server supports WebSockets, it will respond with a 101 status code, indicating its switching protocols. After the handshake, the connection switches from HTTP to WebSocket protocol, allowing full-duplex communication.

The WebSocket API is the programming interface to the WebSocket protocol. It’s available in most modern web browsers and provides methods for connecting, sending, and receiving data through WebSockets. The API is straightforward, with main methods including open(), close(), send(data), and event handlers such as onopen, onmessage, onerror, and onclose.

How do WebSockets work?

As mentioned, a WebSocket connection starts with an HTTP handshake. Here’s a step-by-step:

  1. The client sends an HTTP request to the server with an Upgrade: websocket header.
  2. If the server supports WebSockets, it responds with a 101 status code, along with a Connection: Upgrade header and a Sec-WebSocket-Accept header, which contains a response to a challenge in the client’s request.
  3. The HTTP connection is upgraded to a WebSocket connection. The client and server can now send messages back and forth in real time.

Each WebSocket message consists of one or more frames containing the payload data. Messages can be sent at any time, in either direction, allowing real-time, bi-directional communication.

Pros and Cons of WebSockets

Pros:

  • Real-time communication: WebSockets provide a way for servers to push updates to clients instantly, as soon as they are available.
  • Efficiency: Because the connection is persistent, the overhead of re-establishing connections for each exchange of data is eliminated.
  • Flexibility: WebSockets support both text and binary data, making it a versatile choice for various types of applications.

Cons:

  • Complexity: WebSockets are more complex to implement and require more resources than HTTP requests.
  • Compatibility: While most modern browsers support WebSockets, older ones may not.
  • Lack of built-in security: Unlike HTTP, WebSockets don’t come with built-in security mechanisms like CSRF or CORS. Developers must handle security manually.

Are WebSockets scalable?

WebSockets can be scalable, but it’s a bit more complex than scaling traditional HTTP applications. Because WebSocket connections are long-lived, they can consume more server resources. As the number of concurrent connections increases, so does the demand on your server.

There are ways to scale WebSocket applications, such as horizontal scaling (adding more servers) and using a load balancer to distribute connections. Certain architectures like pub/sub can also help by decoupling message producers from consumers.

What are WebSockets used for?

WebSockets are primarily used for real-time web applications where instantaneous data updates are critical. Examples include:

  • Chat applications
  • Online multiplayer games
  • Live sports updates
  • Collaborative document editing
  • Real-time analytics

Best Alternatives to WebSockets

While WebSockets are a great tool for real-time communication, there are alternatives worth considering:

  • Server-Sent Events (SSE): This technology allows a server to push updates to a client, but unlike WebSockets, it’s one-way communication. SSE is easier to implement and works over traditional HTTP.
  • Long Polling: With long polling, the client sends a request to the server, and the server holds the request open until there’s data to send back to the client. This creates a quasi-real-time experience.
  • HTTP/2 and HTTP/3: The newer versions of HTTP include features for more efficient communication, like multiplexing and server push, making them viable alternatives for some use cases.
  • WebRTC: This is a peer-to-peer protocol that’s well-suited for real-time video and audio communication.
  • GraphQL Subscriptions: These provide real-time functionality in GraphQL APIs, allowing a server to send updates to clients when specific events occur.

How to start building real-time experiences with WebSockets

Here are some high-level steps to start using WebSockets:

  1. Choose a WebSocket library: Libraries like Socket.IO, ws, or WebSocket-Node can help simplify the process of working with WebSockets.
  2. Setup WebSocket Server: This involves initializing a WebSocket server on an HTTP server.
  3. Establish Connection: On the client side, use the WebSocket constructor to establish a connection to the server.
  4. Exchange Data: Use the send() method and onmessage event to exchange data between the client and server.

Remember to handle error cases and disconnections gracefully, and consider how you’ll secure your WebSocket connections.

WebSocket FAQs

Q: Is WebSocket faster than HTTP? A: For real-time applications, WebSockets can be faster than HTTP because it eliminates the overhead of establishing a new connection for each exchange of data.

Q: Can WebSocket work with HTTP/2 or HTTP/3? A: Yes, the WebSocket handshake starts with an HTTP request, so it can be initiated over HTTP/2 or HTTP/3. However, after the handshake, the connection switches to the WebSocket protocol.

Q: Do WebSockets stay connected? A: Yes, once a WebSocket connection is established, it stays open until the client or server decides to close it, or it’s dropped due to a network failure.

Q: Is WebSocket secure? A: WebSocket supports a secure version called WebSocket Secure (wss://) that works over TLS, similar to HTTPS. However, unlike HTTP, it doesn’t come with built-in security mechanisms like CSRF or CORS.

Remember that although WebSockets can enable exciting real-time features in your applications, they also introduce complexity and require careful management of resources and security.