WebSockets are pivotal in modern real-time communication, enabling applications like chatbots, instant messaging, and live updates. They differ from traditional HTTP requests by establishing a persistent, bidirectional connection between client and server. This connection allows both parties to send messages independently, reducing latency and enhancing interactivity. WebSockets operate on ports 80 and 443, using a handshake process to upgrade from HTTP to WebSocket protocol. They are ideal for applications requiring low-latency, such as online gaming or live notifications. However, they don’t automatically recover from disconnections, requiring explicit reconnection attempts. For scalability, systems often use Redis to manage user connections across multiple servers, ensuring messages are routed correctly even when users are connected to different servers.
Source: medium.com















