Polling vs Push Notifications
Developers should use polling when building applications that need to monitor state changes, fetch updates from APIs without WebSocket support, or in embedded systems where hardware constraints limit push-based methods meets developers should learn and use push notifications to improve user retention and engagement in mobile and web applications, particularly for time-sensitive scenarios like messaging apps, e-commerce order updates, or breaking news alerts. Here's our take.
Polling
Developers should use polling when building applications that need to monitor state changes, fetch updates from APIs without WebSocket support, or in embedded systems where hardware constraints limit push-based methods
Polling
Nice PickDevelopers should use polling when building applications that need to monitor state changes, fetch updates from APIs without WebSocket support, or in embedded systems where hardware constraints limit push-based methods
Pros
- +It is particularly useful for simple monitoring tasks, such as checking for new messages in a chat app, tracking file upload progress, or querying sensor data in IoT devices, where low-frequency updates are acceptable and implementation simplicity is prioritized over efficiency
- +Related to: long-polling, webhooks
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Push Notifications
Developers should learn and use push notifications to improve user retention and engagement in mobile and web applications, particularly for time-sensitive scenarios like messaging apps, e-commerce order updates, or breaking news alerts
Pros
- +It's essential for applications that require real-time communication, such as social media platforms, productivity tools, or IoT devices, to keep users informed and drive re-engagement without constant app usage
- +Related to: firebase-cloud-messaging, apple-push-notification-service
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Polling if: You want it is particularly useful for simple monitoring tasks, such as checking for new messages in a chat app, tracking file upload progress, or querying sensor data in iot devices, where low-frequency updates are acceptable and implementation simplicity is prioritized over efficiency and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Push Notifications if: You prioritize it's essential for applications that require real-time communication, such as social media platforms, productivity tools, or iot devices, to keep users informed and drive re-engagement without constant app usage over what Polling offers.
Developers should use polling when building applications that need to monitor state changes, fetch updates from APIs without WebSocket support, or in embedded systems where hardware constraints limit push-based methods
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev