Implementing WebSockets for Real-Time Web Applications

Before we dive in, let’s get something out of the way first – you don’t need to panic. Nobody’s socket has run away and we certainly aren’t messing with anyone’s ‘web’. WebSockets is simply a protocol! And if that sentence terrified you more than it was supposed to comfort you, don’t worry. By the end of this article, you’ll be speaking the ‘webdev’ lingo fluently.

Decoding the Jargon: What are WebSockets?

Here’s an example straight out of your Internet life to explain WebSockets. Let’s say you’re video chatting with your friend. You aren’t going to send an email every time you want to say something, right? Instead, you’ll have a real-time, two-way communication. This is what Websockets do; they allow real-time communication between the server and the client.
Compared to a traditional HTTP, imagine that WebSockets is that best friend who always keeps all their channels open for you, making sure you get all the latest gossips as soon as they’re out. Consider it an upgrade from those ‘dial-up’ days of the internet!

The Working Mechanism of WebSockets

Before you implement something, it’s a good idea to understand how it works, albeit in simpler terms. Websockets begin with a traditional HTTP connection. Then they upgrade this protocol to a WebSocket protocol over the same connection.
Still with me? Good.
Now, here’s where the fun begins. Once upgraded to WebSocket, that simple HTTP relationship turns into a permanent connection! It’s like taking your relationship with your server to the next level.
Now, you just opened a clear path for the constant exchange of data. The back-and-forth that needs to happen with traditional HTTP, is reduced to a simple conversation with WebSockets.

How to Implement WebSockets in Your Web Application

Alright, folks. Enough with the theories. Time for some action!
(Please remember to keep a bowl of popcorn nearby, this is going to get interesting.)

Step 1: Installing a WebSocket Server

Unfortunately, making friends with a server is not as simple as adding them on Facebook. Simply put, your server needs to support the WebSocket protocol.

Step 2: Client-side Connection Creation

Next up, you need to create a WebSocket object in your JavaScript. It’s like initiating a DM with your server and leaving it open for all future messages.

Step 3: Handling the connection with Event Handlers

Here, you assign tasks to different event handlers. It’s like telling them to ‘be alert, and be prepared to receive or send data at any time’.

Step 4: Sending and closing the connection

Your first chat with the server! You send it a message via the WebSocket connection. Once all the chats are over, you politely close the connection.

The Grand Result

And there you have it! A web application ready to go on a date with real-time data. From chat rooms and live sports updates to online multiplayer games, now all the updates will show up instantly.
Through this article, you’ve navigated the high seas of web development lingo, befriended a WebSocket, and even managed to implement it into a functioning web application. Take a bow, brave coder, you’ve earned it!