Socket using NodeJS

Excited to dive into the world of sockets! 🌐

Hey LinkedIn fam! 👋 As a beginner exploring the fascinating realm of networking, I've been getting my hands dirty with sockets lately.

What is a Socket in JavaScript?

Imagine a Socket as a digital telephone line that allows real-time communication between a server and a client. It's like a continuous connection that enables data to flow back and forth instantly.

⚡️ Why Sockets? ⚡️

Sockets are game-changers for web applications requiring instant updates or real-time interaction. They facilitate dynamic content updates, live chat, multiplayer gaming, and live-streaming by maintaining a constant channel between the server and clients.

Use of Sockets:

Real-time Updates: Sockets ensure that any changes on the server are immediately reflected on the client-side without manual refreshing.

Instant Messaging: Enable live chat applications where messages appear instantly.

Collaborative Environments: Power collaborative tools allowing multiple users to work simultaneously on shared content.

// Initialization - Setting up a Socket Connection
const { Server } = require("socket.io"); // Import the socket.io Server class

// Creating an HTTP server
const httpServer = require("http").createServer();

// Creating a Socket.IO instance and attaching it to the HTTP server
const io = new Server(httpServer, {
  cors: {
    origin: "*"
  },
});

// This function triggers once the connection is established, confirming successful connectivity.
io.on("connection", async (socket) => {
  console.log("*** Connected Socket & User ***", {
    socketId: socket?.id,
  });

  // Send data through the socket
  socket.emit('message', 'Hello, client!');
  // Transmitting data to the connected client through the socket connection.

  // Receive data through the socket
  socket.on('message', (data) => {
    console.log('Received message from client:', data);
  });
  // Listening for incoming messages from the client and displaying them in the console.

  // Disconnect handling
  socket.on("disconnect", () => {
    console.log("User disconnected:", socket.id);
  });
});

// Define the port for the server to listen on
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;

// Start the server
httpServer.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log(`Server is running on port ${PORT}`);
});        

This code initializes a Socket connection, sends a message to the server, and listens for messages from the server. It's like dialing a number, speaking, and hearing responses in real-time over a digital line.

Sockets revolutionize web applications by enabling lightning-fast, real-time communication, offering a gateway to dynamic and interactive user experiences!