websocket
n.n. a technology that allows a computer and a server to talk to each other constantly without stopping. It is used for things that need to update instantly, like a chat app or a live game.
n. a communications protocol providing full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection. It enables real-time data transfer between a client and a server with lower overhead than traditional HTTP polling.
The chat app uses a WebSocket to show messages instantly.
By implementing a WebSocket, the developers ensured that the stock prices on the dashboard updated in real time without the user needing to refresh the page.
Unlike standard HTTP requests which are unidirectional and short-lived, a WebSocket maintains an open connection, allowing the server to push updates to the client as soon as events occur.
A compound formed from web, referring to the World Wide Web, and socket, a term established in computer networking for an endpoint in a communication flow. The name follows the convention of adapting physical hardware metaphors for virtual interfaces.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used in the singular when referring to the protocol or in the plural when discussing multiple active connections.
Last updated July 22, 2026