Long Polling
Long polling is a web development technique used to achieve real-time communication between a client and server by keeping an HTTP request open until the server has new data to send. It simulates a persistent connection by having the client repeatedly send requests that the server holds open until an event occurs or a timeout is reached. This approach is commonly used for applications requiring near-real-time updates, such as chat systems or live notifications.
Developers should learn long polling when building applications that need real-time features but cannot use WebSockets due to browser compatibility or infrastructure constraints. It is particularly useful for scenarios like live chat, stock tickers, or collaborative editing tools where immediate data updates are critical. However, it is less efficient than WebSockets for high-frequency updates due to the overhead of repeated HTTP requests.