HTTP Long Polling vs WebSockets
Developers should learn HTTP Long Polling when building real-time features like chat applications, live notifications, or stock tickers in environments where WebSockets are not supported or feasible, such as older browsers or restrictive network configurations meets developers should learn and use websockets when building applications that require real-time features, such as live chat, online gaming, financial trading platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live sports updates, as it reduces latency and server load compared to polling techniques like http long-polling. Here's our take.
HTTP Long Polling
Developers should learn HTTP Long Polling when building real-time features like chat applications, live notifications, or stock tickers in environments where WebSockets are not supported or feasible, such as older browsers or restrictive network configurations
HTTP Long Polling
Nice PickDevelopers should learn HTTP Long Polling when building real-time features like chat applications, live notifications, or stock tickers in environments where WebSockets are not supported or feasible, such as older browsers or restrictive network configurations
Pros
- +It provides a fallback mechanism for real-time communication, ensuring compatibility and reliability in diverse deployment scenarios, though it may introduce latency and server overhead compared to more modern alternatives
- +Related to: websockets, server-sent-events
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
WebSockets
Developers should learn and use WebSockets when building applications that require real-time features, such as live chat, online gaming, financial trading platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live sports updates, as it reduces latency and server load compared to polling techniques like HTTP long-polling
Pros
- +It is particularly valuable in scenarios where instant data synchronization between clients and servers is critical, such as in IoT device monitoring or interactive dashboards, because it maintains an open connection for continuous data flow
- +Related to: http, real-time-communication
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
These tools serve different purposes. HTTP Long Polling is a concept while WebSockets is a protocol. We picked HTTP Long Polling based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.
Based on overall popularity. HTTP Long Polling is more widely used, but WebSockets excels in its own space.
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev