Junior — Middle
What is the main function of the WebSocket protocol and in what scenarios is it used?
sobes.tech AI
Answer from AI
The WebSocket protocol provides a full-duplex (bidirectional) persistent connection between the client and server over a single TCP connection. Its main function is to enable real-time data exchange without the need for repeated HTTP requests.
Use cases for WebSocket:
- Chat applications and messengers
- Multiplayer online games
- Financial applications with streaming quotes
- Monitoring and alert systems
- Real-time collaboration (document editing)
An example of implementation in iOS can be done using URLSessionWebSocketTask to maintain a persistent connection and exchange messages.