clientonReconnect

ClientonReconnect is a term used in software development to describe a callback or handler that is executed when a client reconnects to a server or service after a disconnection. The concept appears across real-time applications, messaging systems, multiplayer games, and other networked clients, though the exact naming and implementation details can vary between libraries and codebases.

Purpose and role

The primary purpose of a clientonReconnect handler is to restore the client’s operating state after a reconnection. Typical tasks include re-authenticating the user, re-subscribing to channels or topics, restoring subscriptions to events, syncing missing data, and reinitializing user interface elements. It also provides an opportunity to apply any necessary back-end state reconciliation, merge in-flight messages, and ensure idempotency to avoid duplicate actions.

Behavior and patterns

- Trigger: The handler runs when the client detects a fresh, stable connection after a period of disconnection.

- Context: Implementations may pass context such as a reconnection attempt count, last known session identifiers, or a summary of previously subscribed channels.

- Idempotency: To prevent duplicate processing, reconnection logic is often designed to be idempotent, so repeated or replayed events do not cause inconsistent state.

- Backoff and rate limits: Reconnect logic commonly uses backoff strategies; the onReconnect handler may be involved in pacing data re-sync and requests.

- Security: Re-authentication and token refresh steps are commonly performed during reconnection to restore authorized access.

Variations

The exact name and semantics vary; similar concepts include onReconnect, onReconnected, or ClientOnReconnect. The implementation details depend on the framework, library, or application architecture.

See also

Reconnection strategies, real-time messaging, event handling, token refresh, idempotent operations.