Can you explain what a WebSocket protocol is and how it is used for real-time data exchange?

WebSocket is a communication protocol that provides a bidirectional, persistent communication channel between the client and server over a single TCP connection. Unlike traditional HTTP, where the client makes a request and receives a response, WebSocket allows the server to send data to the client at any time without repeated requests.

It is used for real-time data exchange applications, such as:

• Chats
• Online games
• Financial trading platforms
• Notification systems

Example of usage in JavaScript:

const socket = new WebSocket('wss://example.com/socket');
socket.onopen = () => {
  socket.send('Hello server!');
};
socket.onmessage = (event) => {
  console.log('Received message:', event.data);
};

Thus, WebSocket allows maintaining a constant connection and quickly exchanging messages between the client and server.