REST Polling vs WebSockets
Developers should use REST Polling when building applications that need to synchronize data with a server but lack support for real-time push mechanisms like WebSockets or Server-Sent Events (SSE) meets developers should learn and use websockets when building applications that require real-time features, such as live chat, online gaming, financial trading platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live sports updates, as it reduces latency and server load compared to polling techniques like http long-polling. Here's our take.
REST Polling
Developers should use REST Polling when building applications that need to synchronize data with a server but lack support for real-time push mechanisms like WebSockets or Server-Sent Events (SSE)
REST Polling
Nice PickDevelopers should use REST Polling when building applications that need to synchronize data with a server but lack support for real-time push mechanisms like WebSockets or Server-Sent Events (SSE)
Pros
- +It's suitable for low-frequency updates, such as checking for new notifications every few minutes, or in environments where firewalls or legacy systems restrict other methods
- +Related to: rest-api, http-protocol
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
WebSockets
Developers should learn and use WebSockets when building applications that require real-time features, such as live chat, online gaming, financial trading platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live sports updates, as it reduces latency and server load compared to polling techniques like HTTP long-polling
Pros
- +It is particularly valuable in scenarios where instant data synchronization between clients and servers is critical, such as in IoT device monitoring or interactive dashboards, because it maintains an open connection for continuous data flow
- +Related to: http, real-time-communication
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
These tools serve different purposes. REST Polling is a concept while WebSockets is a protocol. We picked REST Polling based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.
Based on overall popularity. REST Polling is more widely used, but WebSockets excels in its own space.
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev