Building Real-Time Applications with WebSockets and Python

June 24, 2025

In today’s connected world, users expect applications to update in real time—whether it's a chat app, live dashboard, stock ticker, or multiplayer game. Traditional HTTP protocols fall short in delivering such functionality due to their request-response nature. This is where WebSockets come into play. Combined with Python, WebSockets provide a lightweight, bidirectional communication channel ideal for real-time applications.

What Are WebSockets?

WebSockets are a protocol that allows full-duplex communication between a client (like a browser) and a server over a single, long-lived TCP connection. Unlike HTTP, WebSockets don’t require constant polling, reducing overhead and latency.

Why Use WebSockets with Python?

Python, with its rich ecosystem, offers several libraries like websockets, FastAPI, and Socket.IO (via python-socketio) to implement WebSocket servers easily. These libraries integrate well with asynchronous frameworks, making Python a great choice for scalable, real-time apps.

Building a Simple Chat App with websockets

Here’s a quick example using the websockets library:

1. Install the library

pip install websockets

2. Create the WebSocket Server

import asyncio

import websockets

connected = set()

async def handler(websocket, path):

connected.add(websocket)

try:

async for message in websocket:

for conn in connected:

if conn != websocket:

await conn.send(message)

finally:

connected.remove(websocket)

start_server = websockets.serve(handler, "localhost", 6789)

asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(start_server)

asyncio.get_event_loop().run_forever()

This server broadcasts messages from one client to all others—ideal for a basic chat system.

Frontend (HTML + JS) Example

<script>

const ws = new WebSocket("ws://localhost:6789");

ws.onmessage = (event) => {

console.log("Message received:", event.data);

};

ws.send("Hello from client!");

</script>

Use Cases for WebSockets

Live chat and messaging apps

Real-time dashboards and analytics

Collaborative tools (e.g., Google Docs-like editors)

Online games and auctions

IoT applications

Conclusion

WebSockets, when paired with Python, offer a simple yet powerful way to build real-time applications. Whether you're working on a chat app or a live data feed, WebSockets ensure seamless, low-latency communication that enhances user experience and application responsiveness.

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