Polling
Polling is a client-server communication mechanism where a client repeatedly checks (or 'polls') a server at regular intervals to request new data or updates, rather than waiting for the server to push data asynchronously. It involves the client sending periodic requests to the server to inquire about changes, such as new messages, status updates, or available resources. This approach is simple to implement but can be inefficient due to unnecessary requests when no data has changed.
Developers should use polling in scenarios where real-time updates are not critical, server-side push technologies (like WebSockets or Server-Sent Events) are unavailable or too complex, or for lightweight applications with low-frequency data changes. It is commonly applied in APIs for checking job statuses (e.g., background processing), monitoring system health, or in environments with limited infrastructure support for push notifications. However, it should be avoided for high-frequency updates to reduce network overhead and server load.