The Internet connects computer nodes and networking devices all over the world through communication links, which enables communication among people and devices. Apart from linking computer nodes, the Internet also connects the things around us to automate most of the manual processes in our lives.
As we have numerous devices connected with communication links, there are more possibilities for data communication across devices. This is where communication protocols come into play. These protocols are the rules that hold complete details about the communication.
The client-server communication model ensures communication between the client and the server components. The client is the one who requests the information, and the server responds to the request with messages or services. Web sockets, HTTP push-pulls, long polling, and others are the client-server communication models.
Both HTTP and web sockets are communication protocols that work with the intention of enabling the client to server communication. Their differences include the type of duplex communication, transmission mode, and use cases. In HTTP protocol, the server responds after the client’s requests and the connection terminates after one request and response. In the case of web sockets, however, the server keeps sending information until either of them stops.
HTTP uses a three-way handshake model where the client and server send three messages to establish a connection in the Transaction Control Protocol. There are three steps in this model:
The HTTP request contains a header, request line, and body to describe the request’s details.
HTTP released upgraded versions of their software.
Web sockets also work on the client-server communication model on top of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Unlike HTTP, web sockets use full-duplex communication which allows the client and server to send and receive information from each other simultaneously. The client will send requests to the server like in HTTP, but they do not perform a three-way handshake. Once the server receives the request, they establish a connection and start the communication. The TCP connection link will not terminate after the first response. So they can send any number of information until the client or server stops the connection.
Web sockets use the HTTP transmitting mechanism to initiate a request from the client. Once the request from the client reaches the server, they may use the TCP connection as a web socket connection where sending multiple information requests is possible. The bi-directional communication model maintains persistent connectivity.
HTTP | Web Socket |
HTTP uses a half-duplex mode where only one action at a time is possible. | Websockets use full-duplex mode. Both directions can work simultaneously. |
Uni-directional messaging. | Bi-directional messaging. |
The client initiates the request each time. | Both client and server can push the information. |
The connection terminates after one request-response. | The connection stays active until one of them closes it. |
The server can send only one response for one request. | Both the client and server can send and receive multiple pieces of information for one connection. |
Applications searching for a protocol to deal with static data or error handling scenarios will choose HTTP. | Applications that prefer constant updates and immediate updates choose this web socket communication protocol. |
Proxies are compatible with almost all types of communication protocols. Proxy servers are intermediary servers that ensure the anonymity of their customers in internet communication. Users can achieve this anonymity by integrating proxies with their requests. So, proxies will hide the actual identity of the request sender by forwarding the requests with the proxy address.
HTTPs and Websockets are the communication protocols that have a defined set of rules with which communication works. The major difference is the data transmission mode. An HTTP starts sending data as responses when a request is received, whereas Websockets send and receives data based on data availability.
Websockets are the best choice to handle real-time communication as they support bi-directional communication. In this model, both the client and server can push or pull data. They do not have to wait of each other and can work simultaneously. This model is also known as event-driven protocol as their work-flow is based on a triggered event and not on the requests.
The HTTP communication model can be broken down into the following three steps:
1. The client requests the server with the SYN number.
2. Receiver acknowledges the message by sending back the SYN with an ACK.
3. The client again sends, then the ACK message confirms the acknowledgment.
Instead of randomly sending the requests and responses, they make sure of the reception of the message by giving an acknowledgment.
In this comparison of websocket vs HTTP, it is clear that the web socket protocol has the upper hand over HTTP as they effectively tackle most of the shortcomings in HTTP. The web socket protocol enables a continuous flow of data transmission from both directions till the connection is alive. These qualities in web sockets make them popular among people, especially proxy users. Some may say that web sockets are the future of telecommunication, and HTTP is almost dead. This assertion is not true as HTTP is still preferable over static and cacheable resources. The HTTP’s transmitting protocol is the pioneer of web sockets as they use this mechanism for the initial client request.