What Is Long Polling ?

Long polling is a technique in web development that facilitates real-time communication between a web server and a client. In simple terms, it's a way for a web page to receive updates from the server without continuously polling for new information. Unlike traditional polling, where the client repeatedly asks the server if there's new data, long polling allows the server to hold the request open until new information becomes available.

Here's how it works: when a client initiates a request to the server, the server doesn't immediately respond. Instead, it keeps the request open until new data or updates are ready. Once there's something to share, the server responds to the client's request, providing the latest information. The client then processes the data and immediately sends another request to keep the connection alive for future updates.

Long polling is particularly useful for applications requiring real-time updates, like chat applications or collaborative editing tools. While it's not the only method for achieving real-time communication, it strikes a balance between responsiveness and efficiency, minimizing unnecessary requests and reducing server load. This approach ensures a more dynamic and interactive user experience in web applications.