REST Polling
REST Polling is a client-server communication pattern where a client repeatedly sends HTTP requests (typically GET) to a REST API endpoint at regular intervals to check for updates or new data. It involves the client actively querying the server to fetch the latest state, rather than the server pushing updates. This approach is simple to implement but can be inefficient due to constant network traffic and potential latency in detecting changes.
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). 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. However, it should be avoided for high-frequency real-time needs due to scalability and performance issues.