Chapter 8. Websockets

This chapter covers

  • Understanding the basic difference between HTTP and TCP traffic
  • Using Websockets and JavaScript to communicate in real time over the web
  • Installing Node.js and building a simple TCP server

The Websockets specification is one of the most interesting and paradigm-shifting APIs in the HTML5 stack. When implemented in a web platform, your applications can go from sending a request and waiting for a response to talking to a server or other clients in real time.

With Websockets, you can build, for instance, a web application on a tablet device that can play a game with thousands of players in real time. MMOG (massively multiplayer online games) are already popular, and the versions based on HTML5 are ...

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