A Complete Guide to WebSockets and Socket IO

Understanding Real Time Communication in Modern Applications

Real time communication has become a standard feature in modern software. Applications such as chat platforms, multiplayer games, dashboards, livestream systems, IoT devices, and collaborative tools all rely on fast two way communication between clients and servers. Traditional HTTP requests are not designed for constant updates, so a different technology is required. This is where WebSockets and libraries such as Socket IO become essential.

This guide explains what a WebSocket is, how Socket IO compares, how to create each one, and where to manage a real time connection in production.

What a WebSocket Is

A WebSocket is a protocol that creates a continuous two way communication channel between a client and a server. Once the connection is established the server and client can send messages to each other at any moment without creating new connections.

A WebSocket stays open until either side closes it.
This creates smooth real time communication.
It is ideal for updates, notifications, gameplay, and streaming data.

WebSockets are supported natively by every modern browser.

What Socket IO Is

Socket IO is a library that builds on top of WebSockets. It provides additional features such as automatic reconnection, event names, fallback methods, room and channel support, and built in transport handling. Socket IO uses WebSockets internally when possible but can switch to other techniques when a direct WebSocket connection fails.

A good way to understand the difference is the following.
A WebSocket is the raw protocol.
Socket IO is a framework that makes it easier to work with real time communication.

Which One Is Better

The answer depends on what your application needs.

WebSockets are better if you want a light, clean, direct connection with full control.
Socket IO is better if you want convenience, features, automatic recovery, and easy event management.

Developers building games, streaming dashboards, or custom protocols often choose WebSockets directly.
Developers building chat apps, small multiplayer systems, or fast prototypes often choose Socket IO because of its simplicity.

Both technologies are valid in production and can scale to large systems.

How to Create a WebSocket in JavaScript

Here is a simple WebSocket server in Node.

import WebSocket, { WebSocketServer } from "ws";

const server = new WebSocketServer({ port: 8080 });

server.on("connection", socket => {
socket.on("message", message => {
socket.send("Received: " + message);
});
});

Here is a client side WebSocket.

const socket = new WebSocket("ws://localhost:8080");

socket.onopen = () => {
socket.send("Hello server");
};

socket.onmessage = event => {
console.log(event.data);
};

This creates a direct connection between the browser and your Node server.

How to Create a WebSocket in Python

Python can host WebSockets using libraries such as websockets.

import asyncio
import websockets

async def handler(socket):
async for message in socket:
await socket.send("Received: " + message)

async def main():
server = await websockets.serve(handler, "localhost", 8080)
await server.wait_closed()

asyncio.run(main())

And here is a Python WebSocket client.

import asyncio
import websockets

async def main():
socket = await websockets.connect("ws://localhost:8080")
await socket.send("Hello server")
response = await socket.recv()
print(response)

asyncio.run(main())

How to Create a Socket IO Server in JavaScript

Here is a Socket IO server using Node.

import { Server } from "socket.io";

const io = new Server(3000);

io.on("connection", socket => {
socket.on("message", text => {
socket.emit("reply", "Received: " + text);
});
});

And here is a client side Socket IO script.

import { io } from "socket.io-client";

const socket = io("http://localhost:3000");

socket.emit("message", "Hello server");

socket.on("reply", data => {
console.log(data);
});

Socket IO uses events instead of manually handling messages.

Where to Host or Manage Your WebSocket or Socket IO

WebSockets and Socket IO can run on many platforms.

Self hosted servers such as VPS machines running Node or Python
Cloud environments such as AWS EC2, DigitalOcean, Linode, Google Cloud, or Azure
Dedicated Node hosting services like Render and Railway
Serverless WebSocket platforms such as AWS API Gateway with WebSocket mode
Containers such as Docker or Kubernetes clusters for large systems

The best choice depends on your scale.
Small applications run well on a simple VPS.
Large applications benefit from container orchestration or load balancers.

You can also integrate WebSockets with reverse proxies such as Nginx or Caddy to handle SSL certificates and connection upgrades.

When to Use WebSockets

Use WebSockets when you need pure direct communication.
Examples include multiplayer engines, trading systems, sensors, IoT dashboards, and custom binary protocols.

When to Use Socket IO

Use Socket IO when you want easier development and built in events.
Examples include chat rooms, interactive interfaces, notification systems, or tools that need auto reconnection.

Final Thoughts

WebSockets and Socket IO are two of the most important technologies in real time development. WebSockets provide the raw foundation and are ideal for custom, optimized, or high performance protocols. Socket IO offers convenience, structure, reliability, and features that save time when building common real time applications.

Both tools work well in 2025 and can run on almost any server environment. The choice depends on your project goals. Whether you are building a multiplayer game, a live data feed, or a collaborative application, understanding WebSockets and Socket IO will help you create modern, responsive, and highly interactive systems.