Or perhaps you want a middle layer to handle the output from the server in Node.js. For example, maybe you need to establish an efficient duplex communication channel between two applications. However, there might be some cases where you want to implement a WebSocket solution between a server and another application that doesn't lie in the browser directly. Typical implementations are chat rooms, live boards, and live streaming. The client is usually implemented at the user browser and is handled by the native WebSocket implementation in JavaScript. But for the most part, you will be better served with the native WebSocket implementation in the browser.Īs you already know, WebSockets establish and maintain a connection between a client and a server. Now, you might be asking yourself, does Node.js support WebSockets? And the simple answer is yes, it does. WebSockets provide an open connection between the server and the client and two-way communication between the server and the client. In those cases, using WebSockets is the way to go. However, using HTTP is not always the best course of action, especially when a continuous, bidirectional stream of data is required. And for the most part, it's more than sufficient. So, if you have no experience with Node.js, please get yourself acquainted with it here.Ī WebSocket is a protocol that allows participants to mantain and open connection and exchange data freely What Is a WebSocket?Ī WebSocket is a protocol that allows participants to maintain an open connection and exchange data freely.Ĭommonly, HTTP is the protocol of choice for facilitating communication between a server and a client. Finally, we'll implement a WebSocket client in Node.js and explore alternative ways to achieve the same goal.Īs you can see, this article heavily depends on you taking action and coding as we go. Next, we'll have you create a WebSocket server in Node.js that will accept connections and feed data to clients. Then we'll discuss whether Node.js actually supports WebSockets on both the server and client sides. To do this, you'll create your own implementation of a WebSocket server that will establish a connection with your client and feed you with a real-time clock.įirst, we'll briefly refresh you on what WebSockets are and why they exist. This article will explore the best ways to implement a Node.js WebSocket client.

Express websocket