Server-sent events vs. WebSockets

The HTTP request-response model, traditionally used for web communication where a client requests a resource from a server, became insufficient as dynamic web applications grew, leading to the development of push technologies such as server-sent events (SSE) and WebSockets. SSE allows servers to push updates to clients over an established HTTP connection, making it ideal for unidirectional data flow scenarios like status updates. WebSockets, however, offer bidirectional communication by beginning as an HTTP request and upgrading to a WebSocket connection, suitable for interactive applications like chat or gaming. While both technologies address the limitations of the traditional model, SSE is best for server-to-client data flow, whereas WebSockets provide full-duplex communication for real-time interactions.