Real-Time Tracking vs Polling
Developers should learn real-time tracking when building applications that require instant data updates, such as delivery tracking systems, live sports scores, stock market dashboards, or multiplayer games, to enhance user experience and operational efficiency meets 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. Here's our take.
Real-Time Tracking
Developers should learn real-time tracking when building applications that require instant data updates, such as delivery tracking systems, live sports scores, stock market dashboards, or multiplayer games, to enhance user experience and operational efficiency
Real-Time Tracking
Nice PickDevelopers should learn real-time tracking when building applications that require instant data updates, such as delivery tracking systems, live sports scores, stock market dashboards, or multiplayer games, to enhance user experience and operational efficiency
Pros
- +It's essential for scenarios where delayed information could lead to poor decisions, safety issues, or user frustration, making it a key skill for modern web and mobile development
- +Related to: websockets, streaming-data
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
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
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
The Verdict
Use Real-Time Tracking if: You want it's essential for scenarios where delayed information could lead to poor decisions, safety issues, or user frustration, making it a key skill for modern web and mobile development and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Polling if: You prioritize 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 over what Real-Time Tracking offers.
Developers should learn real-time tracking when building applications that require instant data updates, such as delivery tracking systems, live sports scores, stock market dashboards, or multiplayer games, to enhance user experience and operational efficiency
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