Can you explain the differences between WebSocket protocols and regular sockets?

WebSocket is a protocol that operates over TCP, providing a bidirectional persistent connection between a client and a server. It is used for real-time data exchange with low latency, such as in chats or games.

Regular sockets (TCP sockets) are a lower-level mechanism for establishing network connections. They do not define a specific data transfer protocol but only ensure byte transfer between two points.

Main differences:

• WebSocket works over HTTP(S) and starts with an HTTP request to establish a connection (handshake), after which it switches to a bidirectional mode.
• Regular sockets require the implementation of a data exchange protocol.
• WebSocket is convenient for web applications as it is supported by browsers.

Example of using WebSocket in iOS (Swift):

import Foundation

let url = URL(string: "wss://example.com/socket")!
let task = URLSession.shared.webSocketTask(with: url)
task.resume()

task.send(.string("Hello")) { error in
    if let error = error {
        print("Send error: \(error)")
    }
}

task.receive { result in
    switch result {
    case .success(let message):
        switch message {
        case .string(let text):
            print("Received text: \(text)")
        default:
            break
        }
    case .failure(let error):
        print("Receive error: \(error)")
    }
}