Users expect instant updates and seamless interactions. WebSockets are the technology that makes this possible, enabling real-time, two-way communication between web browsers and servers. They are often used in conjunction with Server-Sent Events and/or Push Notification services (e.g. Apple Push, or Google Cloud Messaging).

What are WebSockets?

WebSocket is a protocol that allows a persistent connection between a client (typically a web browser) and a server. Unlike traditional HTTP requests, where the client must continuously ask the server for updates, a WebSocket enables the server to send data to the client without being prompted.

Publish/Subscribe (Pub/Sub) is a messaging pattern that tends to be the default “broadcast” mechanism within WebSocket applications. In this model:

• Publishers send messages without knowing who will receive them
• Subscribers express interest in certain types of messages
• A broker matches publishers with subscribers

This decoupling allows for more flexible and scalable systems.

Real-World Applications

Imagine a live chat application:

• A user types a message
• It’s sent instantly to the server via WebSocket
• The server broadcasts the message to all other connected users
• Everyone sees the new message immediately, without refreshing the page

This same principle applies to real-time stock tickers, multiplayer games, and collaborative tools.

Key Technologies in the WebSocket Ecosystem

NATS

NATS is a high-performance messaging system that can provide a WebSocket connection. It’s designed for building distributed systems and microservices, and is often used in gaming apps. NATS excels at:

• Handling high-volume message traffic
• Providing low-latency communication
• Scaling easily as your system grows

WebRTC

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is a free, open-source project that provides web browsers and mobile applications with real-time communication via simple application programming interfaces (APIs). WebRTC allows:

• Direct peer-to-peer communication
• Audio and video calling without plugins
• File sharing between browsers

Centrifugo

Centrifugo is a scalable real-time messaging server written in Go, which we prefer. It’s designed to:

• Handle WebSocket connections efficiently
• Scale horizontally to support millions of simultaneous connections
• Provide real-time messaging features out of the box

Why Businesses are Adopting WebSockets

1. Improved User Responsiveness: Real-time updates create more engaging and responsive applications.
2. Reduced Server Load: WebSockets can decrease the number of HTTP requests, lowering server stress.
3. Lower Latency: Messages are sent and received almost instantly.
4. Versatility: WebSockets can be used for a wide range of applications, from simple chat systems to complex collaborative tools.

How We Use WebSockets

We use WebSockets to create dynamic, responsive web applications. We’ve helped businesses:

• Build real-time dashboards for monitoring critical business metrics
• Create collaborative editing tools where multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously
• Develop live auction platforms with instant bidding updates

With WebSockets and related technologies, we can help your web applications communicate in real-time, opening up new possibilities for user engagement and data delivery.