← Communication & Background
WebSocket
Probing…WebSocket is a web platform capability in the Communication & Background category. Bidirectional persistent connection to a server. Supported in Chromium 16+, Firefox 11+, and Safari 7+.
Try it
Loading demo…
Code
const ws = new WebSocket('wss://echo.websocket.events')
ws.onopen = () => ws.send('hello')
ws.onmessage = e => console.log('echo', e.data)
ws.onerror = () => console.warn('needs a reachable server')
// later
ws.close()Browser support
Chromium
16
Firefox
11
Safari
7
Frequently asked questions
Which browsers support WebSocket?
Supported in Chromium 16+, Firefox 11+, and Safari 7+.
Does WebSocket require HTTPS?
No. WebSocket works without a secure context, though serving your site over HTTPS is always recommended.
What is WebSocket used for?
Bidirectional persistent connection to a server.
Can I try WebSocket in my browser?
Yes. shwcs.net runs a live WebSocket demo that probes your current browser and lets you try the API. Everything runs locally — nothing is sent anywhere.