Polling vs Server-Sent Events
Developers should use polling when building applications that require real-time or near-real-time updates but where server-push technologies like WebSockets are not feasible or necessary, such as in simple dashboards, status monitors, or legacy systems 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.
Polling
Developers should use polling when building applications that require real-time or near-real-time updates but where server-push technologies like WebSockets are not feasible or necessary, such as in simple dashboards, status monitors, or legacy systems
Polling
Nice PickDevelopers should use polling when building applications that require real-time or near-real-time updates but where server-push technologies like WebSockets are not feasible or necessary, such as in simple dashboards, status monitors, or legacy systems
Pros
- +It is suitable for low-frequency updates or scenarios with limited server resources, as it avoids the complexity of maintaining persistent connections, though it may not be optimal for high-frequency or latency-sensitive applications
- +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 Polling if: You want it is suitable for low-frequency updates or scenarios with limited server resources, as it avoids the complexity of maintaining persistent connections, though it may not be optimal for high-frequency or latency-sensitive applications 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 Polling offers.
Developers should use polling when building applications that require real-time or near-real-time updates but where server-push technologies like WebSockets are not feasible or necessary, such as in simple dashboards, status monitors, or legacy systems
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