RESTWebSocket

RESTWebSocket is an architectural approach that coordinates RESTful HTTP services with a WebSocket-based bidirectional channel to enable both request-response operations and real-time event delivery. In this model, traditional REST endpoints handle create, read, update, and delete actions, while a persistent WebSocket connection streams updates and notifications to clients. The pattern aims to combine the simplicity and tooling of REST with the low-latency, push-based communication of WebSocket.

Implementation typically involves a REST API for standard operations and an accompanying WebSocket endpoint or subprotocol on the same server. Clients authenticate once and reuse credentials for both channels, commonly via tokens such as JWTs. The server publishes relevant events to the appropriate WebSocket topics or channels, to which clients subscribe. Some designs use a single upgrade-aware gateway that routes REST requests and WebSocket messages, while others keep the services separate and synchronize state through a message bus.

Common data flows include: a client creates or updates a resource via REST and receives a status response; when the resource changes, the server emits a WebSocket message describing the update; clients subscribed to that resource receive the message in real time. Message formats are typically JSON, and versioning or schemas help maintain compatibility across REST and WebSocket payloads.

Key design considerations include ensuring security and access control across both channels, handling backpressure and reconnection logic, scaling WebSocket connections, and maintaining consistency between REST state and real-time streams. Proxies and load balancers must support WebSocket, and API gateways may coordinate authentication and routing.

Typical use cases are real-time dashboards, collaborative applications, live notifications, and systems requiring both reliable CRUD operations and immediate updates. RESTWebSocket is not a formal standard, but a pragmatic integration pattern used in modern web architectures.