SSE vs WebSockets

Introduction

Real-time communication is vital for modern web applications. This lesson compares Server-Sent Events (SSE) and WebSockets, two technologies that facilitate real-time data transmission.

Key Concepts

• Real-Time Communication: Enables instant data updates without refreshing.
• SSE: Allows servers to push updates to clients over HTTP.
• WebSockets: Provides full-duplex communication channels over a single connection.

Server-Sent Events (SSE)

Server-Sent Events is a standard allowing servers to push updates to clients over an HTTP connection. It is unidirectional (server to client) and is best for scenarios like live notifications or real-time feeds.

How to Use SSE

const eventSource = new EventSource('https://yourserver.com/events');
eventSource.onmessage = function(event) {
    console.log(event.data);
};
            

WebSockets

WebSockets offer a full-duplex communication channel that allows data to flow in both directions simultaneously. This makes them suitable for applications like online gaming or chat applications.

How to Use WebSockets

const socket = new WebSocket('wss://yourserver.com/socket');
socket.onopen = function() {
    socket.send('Hello Server!');
};
socket.onmessage = function(event) {
    console.log(event.data);
};
            

Comparison

Best Practices

• Choose SSE for simple server-to-client notifications.
• Opt for WebSockets when bi-directional communication is necessary.
• Monitor and handle disconnections gracefully.
• Secure connections using HTTPS/WSS.

FAQ