link: HTTP Polling

Short Polling

Overview

Short polling is a technique used in web applications to check for updates from a server at regular intervals. Unlike Long Polling, which keeps the connection open until new data is available, short polling closes the connection after each request and opens a new one for the next check.

How Short Polling Works

1. Client Request: The client sends a request to the server at fixed intervals.
2. Server Response: The server processes the request and responds immediately with the current state of the data.
3. Repeat: The client waits for a predefined period before sending another request.

Pros/Cons

Pros

• Simplicity: Easy to implement with standard HTTP requests.
• Compatibility: Works with any web server without requiring special configurations.
• Control: Client has control over the frequency of requests.

Cons

• Inefficiency: Frequent requests can lead to high server load and increased network traffic.
• Latency: Not suitable for real-time applications due to the delay between requests.
• Resource Intensive: Can consume more bandwidth and server resources compared to other polling techniques.

Use Cases

Short polling is best suited for applications where real-time updates are not critical but periodic data retrieval is required. Examples include:

• Email Checking: Applications checking for new emails at regular intervals.
• Weather Updates: Weather apps polling for updated information periodically.
• Stock Prices: Financial apps retrieving stock prices at regular intervals.

Example Implementation

Here’s a basic example of short polling using JavaScript and a RESTful API:

function shortPoll() {
    fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
        .then(response => response.json())
        .then(data => {
            console.log('Data:', data);
            // Process the data
        })
        .catch(error => console.error('Error:', error));
 
    // Poll every 5 seconds
    setTimeout(shortPoll, 5000);
}
 
// Start short polling
shortPoll();