what is web sockets

tags: learning networking

content

From HTTP to websockets

  • HTTP has following characteristics:
    • single request
    • short-lived
    • client initiated
    • stateless
  • websocket:
    • long lived TCP connection
    • back and forth request (fully duplex)
    • stateful
    • start with HTTP, it’s an upgrade from HTTP

websockets is a long lived connection, the connection might be closed:

  • either side closes
  • connection dies unexpectedly due to
    • network issue, server issue, client app being killed by OS, …
  • error can happen anytime during the long lived connection

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