SSE vs WebSocket vs Long Poll
Use this page as a quick decision aid, then jump into related case studies and patterns for implementation details.
Trade-off Matrix
| Topic | Option A | Option B | When B Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directionality | SSE (server -> client) | WebSocket (bi-directional) | Needed for chat input, presence, and collaborative editing. |
| Operational Simplicity | Long Poll | SSE | Need lower-latency push while keeping backend simpler than sockets. |
| Burst Throughput | SSE | WebSocket | High-frequency two-way events and acknowledgement loops. |
Protocol Chooser
- WebSocket: Bi-directional real-time interactions and chat/presence.
- SSE: Server -> client push streams such as feed updates.
- Long Poll: Simple refresh models and low-frequency updates.