WebSockets vs Server-Sent Events vs Long-polling

Apparently social networking is the banner of the nowadays web. Everybody intends bringing some features into his projects. Some of them require immediate notification. That is getting common, if you open a page with upcoming messages (status feed, notification subsystem, friends-list), you expected them being updated as soon as a new message (status, notification, friend-making action) arrives. As you well know, original web design allowed only one-way client-server communication (one requests, another one responds), though now HTML5 working group doing their best to fix it or rather to patch it. However, the web-projects are still using long-polling trick to emulate server-client communication.

Well, now new web browser versions appear every few months. Besides they update automatically. Thus a huge number of users have the latest browser versions, which support HTML 5 communication APIs. Is that the time to put long-polling away? Let’s find out.

Real-Time Updates with HTML5: Unlocking Server-Sent Events

Besides, already noted bidirectional communication channel, known as WebSocket, HTML5 propositions include also comet communication pattern by defining Server-Sent Events (SSE). WebSocket widely discussed by now, tons of server implementations are available and you can play already with fluent browser implementation under Chrome. However the second server-push technology of HTML5 yet stays in shadow.

Persistent Full Duplex Client-Server Connection via Web Socket

RIA is considered one of the most distinctive features of the modern Web, reflecting a trend where web applications grow to resemble desktop applications. The overwhelming majority of rich web applications are still built on the request-response model. Events on the client side can reach the server, but not vice versa. To build something as simple as a chat, you have to use tricks. These techniques for emulating bi-directional connections are collectively called Comet, a term coined by Alex Russell of Dojo.