Should I use WebSockets or SSE for a live dashboard?

Either works for server-to-client data streaming. SSE is simpler if you only need one-way data push and your stack already uses HTTP/2. WebSockets are better if you need to send user interactions back to the server, show who is viewing the dashboard, or add collaborative features later.

Do WebSockets work through corporate proxies and firewalls?

Most modern network configurations support WebSocket upgrades. Older HTTP proxies that don't understand the Upgrade header can block WebSocket connections. In those environments, SSE over HTTPS is more reliable since it's standard HTTP. Apinator's client SDK falls back gracefully in restricted environments.

Is SSE deprecated or being replaced by WebSockets?

No. SSE is a living standard and appropriate for many server-push use cases. WebSockets and SSE serve different needs. For unidirectional streaming, SSE is often simpler. For bidirectional communication, presence, and client events, WebSockets are the right tool.

Can I use both SSE and WebSockets in the same application?

Yes. You might use SSE for a public activity feed and WebSockets for a private presence-aware collaboration feature. They are not mutually exclusive. That said, using a single WebSocket connection for all realtime needs is simpler to manage.

Does Apinator support SSE?

Apinator is a WebSocket-first platform. It does not currently expose SSE endpoints. If your use case is strictly one-way server push and you prefer SSE, you can combine a simple SSE endpoint on your own server with Apinator WebSockets for interactive channels.

WebSockets vs Server-Sent Events (SSE)

Two protocols for realtime data — each with the right use case.

WebSockets and SSE both push data from server to client in real time, but they work differently. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right protocol — or know when you need a managed solution like Apinator.

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WebSockets: Bidirectional

A WebSocket is a persistent, full-duplex TCP connection. Both client and server can send messages at any time. Ideal for chat, games, presence, and collaborative editing.

SSE: Server-Push Only

Server-Sent Events stream data one-way from server to client over HTTP. The browser cannot send data back over the SSE connection. Best for feeds, dashboards, and live scores.

WebSockets Scale Differently

Persistent connections require sticky sessions or a pub/sub layer (like Redis) to fan out messages across nodes. SSE over HTTP/2 can be load-balanced more easily.

SSE Has Browser Limits

Browsers allow only 6 concurrent SSE connections per origin under HTTP/1.1. HTTP/2 removes this limit. WebSockets have no such constraint.

WebSockets Need Auth Handling

SSE uses standard HTTP cookies and headers for auth. WebSockets require custom auth — Apinator handles this with HMAC-signed channel tokens.

When to Use Apinator

Apinator uses WebSockets for full bidirectional channels, presence, and client events — use cases where SSE falls short.

Apinator vs SSE

Feature	Apinator	SSE
Direction	Bidirectional	Server → Client only
Protocol	WebSocket (TCP)	HTTP long-poll
Browser reconnect	Client SDK handles it	Built into browser
Binary messages
Client → Server messages
Presence / who is online
HTTP/2 multiplexing
Load balancer friendly	With sticky sessions	Stateless
Good for chat / games
Good for dashboards / feeds

Side-by-Side Comparison

The same "server pushes data" use case, implemented with SSE and with Apinator WebSockets.

comparison.js
// SSE — server-to-client only, no send-back
const sse = new EventSource('/api/stream')
sse.onmessage = (e) => handleData(JSON.parse(e.data))
// sse.send() — not possible, SSE is read-only

// Apinator WebSockets — bidirectional, presence-aware
import { RealtimeClient } from '@apinator/client'
const client = new RealtimeClient('APP_KEY')
const ch = client.subscribe('presence-dashboard')

// Receive server events
ch.bind('update', (data) => handleData(data))
// Send a client event back — not possible with SSE
ch.trigger('client-cursor', { x: 120, y: 340 })

Frequently Asked Questions

How WebSockets Scale Distributed WebSocket architecture Self-Hosted WebSocket Run your own WebSocket server Documentation Apinator API reference

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