How does the WebSocket protocol differ from the standard HTTP protocol in data exchange over the network?

The main difference between WebSocket and standard HTTP lies in the way they establish and maintain a connection for data exchange:

• HTTP is a request-response protocol. The client sends a request, the server responds, and then the connection is usually closed. To receive new data, the client must send a new request.

• WebSocket is a protocol that establishes a persistent, bidirectional connection between the client and server. After the initial HTTP handshake, the connection switches to WebSocket mode, and both parties can send data to each other at any time without the need for repeated requests.

Advantages of WebSocket:

• Low latency during data exchange
• Efficiency in frequent message exchanges
• Support for real-time applications (e.g., chats, games, financial data)

Example of usage in Node.js:

const WebSocket = require('ws');
const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 8080 });

wss.on('connection', ws => {
  ws.on('message', message => {
    console.log(`Received message: ${message}`);
    ws.send(`Response: ${message}`);
  });
});