WebSocketyhteyksiä

WebSocketyhteyksiä, or WebSocket connections, are a communication protocol that provides a full-duplex communication channel over a single TCP connection. Unlike traditional HTTP requests, which are stateless and require a new connection for each request, WebSocket connections remain open, allowing for persistent, real-time bidirectional communication between a client (typically a web browser) and a server.

The primary advantage of WebSockets is their efficiency for applications requiring low latency and high frequency data transfer. This makes them ideal for use cases such as online gaming, live chat applications, stock tickers, collaborative editing tools, and real-time data dashboards. By eliminating the overhead of establishing new HTTP connections repeatedly, WebSockets significantly reduce latency and server load.

The WebSocket protocol is initiated through an HTTP handshake. Once the handshake is successful, the connection is "upgraded" from HTTP to the WebSocket protocol. After the upgrade, both the client and server can send messages to each other independently at any time. This differs from HTTP, where the client must initiate every communication.

Implementing WebSockets involves using JavaScript in the browser or various server-side programming languages and libraries. While offering significant performance benefits, developers must also consider potential complexities such as handling connection interruptions, managing state, and ensuring security, especially when dealing with sensitive data. Despite these considerations, WebSockets have become a fundamental technology for building modern, interactive web applications.