How WebSockets Replace Inefficient Polling for Real-Time Web Apps

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A developer building an internal team tool initially used AJAX polling every two seconds to fetch updates, but the approach caused server strain and a sluggish UI as the team scaled. This prompted a switch to WebSockets, which establish a persistent two-way connection between client and server, eliminating repeated requests. Unlike polling, WebSockets allow both sides to send messages at any time after a single handshake, reducing latency and bandwidth waste. The developer implemented a Node.js chat room using the 'ws' library, enabling real-time messaging and join/leave notifications broadcast to all connected clients. Key pitfalls highlighted include the need for heartbeat handling to detect dropped connections and ensuring messages are properly broadcast across all active sockets.

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