Long Polling vs Server-Sent Events
Developers should learn long polling when building applications that need real-time features but cannot use WebSockets due to browser compatibility or infrastructure constraints meets developers should learn sse when building applications that require real-time, server-to-client updates, such as live dashboards, chat applications, or news feeds, as it offers a lightweight and easy-to-implement alternative to websockets for one-way data flow. Here's our take.
Long Polling
Developers should learn long polling when building applications that need real-time features but cannot use WebSockets due to browser compatibility or infrastructure constraints
Long Polling
Nice PickDevelopers should learn long polling when building applications that need real-time features but cannot use WebSockets due to browser compatibility or infrastructure constraints
Pros
- +It is particularly useful for scenarios like live chat, stock tickers, or collaborative editing tools where immediate data updates are critical
- +Related to: websockets, server-sent-events
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Server-Sent Events
Developers should learn SSE when building applications that require real-time, server-to-client updates, such as live dashboards, chat applications, or news feeds, as it offers a lightweight and easy-to-implement alternative to WebSockets for one-way data flow
Pros
- +It is particularly useful in scenarios where you need to avoid the complexity of bidirectional communication or when working with HTTP/1
- +Related to: websockets, http
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Long Polling if: You want it is particularly useful for scenarios like live chat, stock tickers, or collaborative editing tools where immediate data updates are critical and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Server-Sent Events if: You prioritize it is particularly useful in scenarios where you need to avoid the complexity of bidirectional communication or when working with http/1 over what Long Polling offers.
Developers should learn long polling when building applications that need real-time features but cannot use WebSockets due to browser compatibility or infrastructure constraints
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev