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Using WebSockets in Next.js

Understanding WebSockets in Next.js: A Practical Introduction

Real-time applications have become essential in modern web development. Whether you're building a chat app, a collaborative editor, or a notification system, WebSockets offer a powerful way to establish persistent, bidirectional communication between client and server.
In this article, we’ll explore how WebSockets work and how to use them effectively in a Next.js project.

What Are WebSockets?

WebSockets are a communication protocol enabling a full-duplex, persistent connection between a client and a server.
Unlike traditional HTTP requests—which are stateless and require a new request for each update—WebSockets keep the connection open, allowing either side to send data at any time.

Key advantages:

  • • Low latency
  • • Real-time data flow
  • • Less overhead than repeated HTTP polling
  • • Ideal for chats, dashboards, multiplayer apps