Polling

• How It Works:
  • The client sends periodic requests to the server to fetch updates.
• Use Case:
  • Simple or legacy systems where real-time updates aren’t strictly required.
• Advantages:
  • Easy to implement.
  • Reliable and works in all environments.
• Disadvantages:
  • Inefficient and increases server load due to frequent requests.
  • Delayed updates depending on polling frequency.

HTTP Long Polling

• How It Works:
  • The client sends an HTTP request to the server and waits for a response.
  • The server holds the request until there’s new data to send or a timeout occurs.
  • After the response, the client immediately sends another request to keep the connection alive.
• Use Case:
  • When WebSockets or other real-time protocols are unavailable due to infrastructure limitations or legacy system constraints.
• Advantages:
  • Works with standard HTTP, no special libraries or protocols needed.
  • Reliable in environments where WebSockets might not be supported.
• Disadvantages:
  • Increased latency compared to WebSockets or SSE.
  • Inefficient due to repeated HTTP request overhead.