Updating page with database information

Question

I am trying to make a refresh algorithm for my site but dont want to have a bunch of $.post() scripts being sent to the server checking for updates. So I was wondering if there were any good ways of sending updates to the page that is being viewed when something on a database is changed.

Just cause there is no question mark does not mean that its not a question.... — Noah Passalacqua, Oct 06 '12 at 23:04

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

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You can use html5 web-sockets

You need a server, P2P doesn't work yet between browsers. See: Do I need a server to use HTML5's WebSockets?

Websocket (HTML5 sockets) is a way to have a bi-directional open connection between the browser and your server. Otherwise you'll have to work using XHR (aka Ajax) which is pull only. Mozilla wrote a great article explaining how they built: BrowserQuest (or just play it: http://browserquest.mozilla.org/)

Alternatives are generally based on Flash XMLSocket!

edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

Community

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answered Oct 05 '12 at 18:39

StaticVariable

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Actually, XHR and Comet are common technologies for push nowadays. – F.X. Oct 05 '12 at 18:40
can you please elaborate on that @F.X. – Noah Passalacqua Oct 05 '12 at 18:41

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 05 '12 at 18:45

The common way to do it is called Comet.

Basically, you create an XMLHttpRequest, send it to the server and wait. The server keeps the connection open, and sends data then closes it each time something happens server-side. It can also send nothing and close every 30 seconds or so to clean up things a bit.

WebSockets are a rather new technology, and it will be the way to go in the future, but I encourage you to use Comet right now, unless you want to play with something that's a little on the bleeding-edge side of web developement.

Updating page with database information

2 Answers2