Tech Glossary

What is Socket.Io?

Socket.IO is a javascript library that makes it possible to create web applications with real-time functionality. It uses the websockets technology to maintain a continuous connection between the browser and the server. This makes it possible to create applications such as chats, games or other applications where it is important that the information is up-to-date. Web applications that use Socket.IO are often built using Node.js on the server, as this makes it easier to handle real-time data. A browser is usually used on the client side, but there is also support for other platforms such as iOS and Android. There are several other techniques that can be used to create real-time functionality in web applications. Websockets is one of the most popular techniques, but there are also other techniques such as long polling. Compared to these technologies, Socket.IO has several advantages. Among other things, it is easier to use and there are more platforms that are supported.