Real-time functionality is a staple of modern web applications—whether it's for live chat, stock updates, or multiplayer games. In this post, we’ll walk through how to create a simple real-time app using Socket.IO and Node.js.
🔧 What You’ll Learn:
Setting up a basic Express server
Integrating Socket.IO for real-time communication
Broadcasting events to connected clients
Example use case: a real-time number update system (think stock tickers or live game results)
🛠️ Step 1: Set Up Your Project
mkdir realtime-app
cd realtime-app
npm init -y
npm install express socket.io
🖥️ Step 2: Create the Server
// index.js
const express = require("express");
const http = require("http");
const socketIo = require("socket.io");
const app = express();
const server = http.createServer(app);
const io = socketIo(server);
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
res.sendFile(__dirname + "/index.html");
});
io.on("connection", (socket) => {
console.log("New client connected");
setInterval(() => {
const randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
socket.emit("number", randomNumber);
}, 2000);
socket.on("disconnect", () => {
console.log("Client disconnected");
});
});
server.listen(3000, () => {
console.log("Listening on port 3000");
});
🧾 Step 3: Basic Frontend (index.html)
<!DOCTYPE html>
Real-Time Number Feed
<br> const socket = io();<br> socket.on("number", (data) => {<br> document.getElementById("number").textContent = "New Number: " + data;<br> });<br>
🔄 What Can You Build With This?
This setup can power real-time:
Auction apps
Chat systems
Multiplayer games
Live dashboards
It’s also similar to what powers real-time number reveal systems in games like Jalwa Game, where users see instant results and need real-time communication between server and client.
🎯 Wrap-Up
Using Socket.IO with Node.js is a simple yet powerful way to introduce real-time features into your applications. Whether you're building a collaborative tool, live analytics dashboard, or even the backend of a game like Jalwa Game, these tools provide the foundation you need.
đź’¬ Got questions or building something cool? Share it in the comments!
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