Push API vs Server-Sent Events

Developers should learn the Push API when building progressive web apps (PWAs) or any web application that requires real-time notifications to enhance user engagement and retention 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.

Push API

Nice Pick

Developers should learn the Push API when building progressive web apps (PWAs) or any web application that requires real-time notifications to enhance user engagement and retention

Pros

• It is particularly useful for news sites, social media platforms, e-commerce apps, and messaging services where timely updates are critical
• Related to: service-workers, progressive-web-apps

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

These tools serve different purposes. Push API is a platform while Server-Sent Events is a concept. We picked Push API based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Push API wins

Based on overall popularity. Push API is more widely used, but Server-Sent Events excels in its own space.