Can you explain what the WebSocket protocol is and how it differs from regular HTTP connections?

WebSocket is a protocol that provides a full-duplex (two-way) persistent connection between a client and a server over a single TCP connection. Unlike regular HTTP, where the client sends a request and the server responds and closes the connection, WebSocket allows maintaining an open connection through which both parties can send data at any time.

Main differences:

• HTTP is a unidirectional request-response, WebSocket is a bidirectional data exchange.
• HTTP connection is short-lived, WebSocket is persistent.
• WebSocket starts with an HTTP request to establish a connection (handshake), after which the protocol switches.

An example of using WebSocket is a chat, where messages are instantly transmitted between clients without constant requests to the server.