How to Build Robust Applications Using WebSockets in Golang

In the swiftly evolving realm of software development, propelled by advanced technologies and innovative app-building methodologies, developers are in constant search of optimal tools and approaches to construct resilient and high-performing applications. Amidst this digital revolution, Golang, a high-level programming language developed by Google, has emerged as a preferred choice for developers. Leveraging the capabilities of real-time communication and integrating websockets in Golang, developers find themselves equipped to create top-tier business app solutions.

However, navigating the intricacies of setting up the development environment and building apps with Golang websockets can be a challenging endeavor. Fortunately, enlisting the services of a professional Golang development company can provide invaluable assistance. Their expertise allows you to navigate the complexities of app development seamlessly, particularly when working with Golang websocket servers. If you’re considering venturing into the realm of Golang development, hire Golang developers is a prudent step towards ensuring a smooth and successful development process.

What Exactly Are the Websockets in Golang?

A Websocket in Golang is a communication protocol that enables two-way, real-time communication between client and server. Simply put, Go websockets enable browsers to share and receive messages from the client to the server without polling the latter to respond

Getting instant responses from the server side without refreshing the entire page has become the new normal. However, in the past, it used to be a challenge to enable real-time functionality in web apps. The developer community had to find a solution that could replace the conventional HTTP long polling method and build truly high-performing real-time applications.

The solution came in the form of websockets in Golang, meeting the rise in demands for apps that can survive in the competitive marketplace. By harnessing the power of the best Golang frameworks and using suitable Go websockets, developing top-notch and user-friendly apps is not a big deal.

How do Websockets in Golang Work?

The working of a websocket in Go is simple. It bridges the server side and client side by building a real-time, bidirectional communication medium over a single, lasting connection. Here is the process in brief for better understanding:

Configuring the Server

First of all, a user imports the necessary packages, such as Gorilla, which is a popular Golang websocket library. After that, an HTTP server is created using Golang’s standard library or a framework like Gin. When the user is done with cheating a web server, one needs to upgrade an HTTP connection to a Websocket connection, once the client requests it. 

Upgrading to Websocket

On a client request to establish a Websocket connection, an HTTP request is sent to ensure the same. The websocket upgrade handler in the Golang socket server detects this request and upgrades the connection to a websocket protocol.

Managing Websocket Connections

Once the user upgrades the connection, they can manage them using the functions in the Golang websocket library. Typically, one creates a Goroutine, a concurrent Go routine, to handle each connection. This way multiple clients can connect simultaneously with the socket server.

Websocket Communication

Now, since the connection is established, both the server and the client can share messages with each other at any time. These messages are usually encoded as JSON or another format of the users’ preference. Also, the users need to check out the Golang websocket library in order to comprehend the shared messages.

Disconnecting Server Connections

Like connection management, a well-functioning websocket in Golang handles disconnections aptly, as well. It keeps a tab when a client disconnects and cleans up resources associated with that connection.

What Are the Benefits of Using Websockets in Golang?

Websockets in Golang can be highly beneficial for applications that require instant updates, such as gaming apps, chat platforms, financial trading applications, etc. The high-level efficiency, easy scalability, and cross-platform compatibility make websockets a powerful tool in the modern app development process.

Real-Time Communication

Unlike the conventional HTTP-based approach, which is primarily request-response-based, Websocket enables easy real-time communication. It means that data can be shared and received by both the client and server at any time without the need for the client to repeatedly poll the server for updates. This makes it ideal for applications that require instant updates, such as chat applications, online gaming, and collaborative tools.

Reduced Latency

Websocket significantly reduces the latency compared to techniques like long polling or repeated polling. In long polling, the client sends a request to the server, and the server holds the response until a timeout occurs or the new data is available. With a websocket, you do not need to go back and forth, resulting in quick data transmission.

Efficient Data Transfer

Websocket utilizes a compact and efficient binary protocol, which minimizes the overhead of data transfer compared to text-based protocols like HTTP. This becomes especially crucial for applications where reducing data transfer size and latency is important.

Bi-Directional Communication

Websocket allows both the client and server to initiate communication, making it suitable for interactive applications where users need to send and receive data simultaneously. For example, a multiplayer online game can use a websocket to update the game state in real-time for all players.

Scalability

Websockets are highly flexible and can be used with multiple technologies like Websockets clusters, load balancers, and proxy servers to scale applications horizontally. This enables applications to handle a large number of concurrent connections and distribute traffic across multiple server instances.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Websockets are supported by most modern web browsers, making them a great pick for both web and mobile app development. Additionally, there are several websocket libraries that are compatible with a plethora of programming languages. This helps in implementing real-time websocket communication in a large number of platforms and technologies with powerful cross-platform app development services.

Event-Driven Architecture

Websockets in Golang promote an event-driven architecture, where actions on the server or client can trigger events immediately communicated to the other side. This architecture is well-suited for building responsive and interactive applications.

How Do You Build Apps Using Websockets in Golang?

Building an application using websockets in Golang is not that difficult if you have expertise in Golang. All you need to do is follow a specific set of steps to create a robust app solution using Go websockets.

Step 1: Handshake Setup

First of all, you need to set up a basic Golang websocket server to handle the handshake with clients. However, this response cannot be written in the format of HTTP.ResponseWriter. Doing it will break the defined TCP connection if you generate a response request to the server.

Therefore, you are supposed to perform HTTP Hijacking to keep both the basic TCP connection handles and the Bufio writer organized. This will introduce ample routes to read and write data without restricting the TCP connection.

Step 2: Migrating Data Frames

Once the handshake is completed, you need to handle websocket data frames. There are multiple types of websocket frames, such as TextMessage, BinaryMessage, and CloseMessage. Pick the frames and handle them in the handleWebSocket function.

Step 3: Creating a Close Frame for Handshake

To close a handshake, one has to send a close frame from the client’s side to achieve a close status simultaneously.  Here’s how to do it:

This Go websocket example demonstrates how you can build a basic application using websockets in Golang. However, depending on your specific needs and use case, you might need to expand this process with additional steps and features. The following steps are not mandatory but could be helpful as your app evolves and needs scalability options.

Incorporating Error Handling

You need to be assured that your app is integrated with a robust error-handling system to manage and eliminate various error scenarios, such as network issues, connection errors, or protocol violations.

Authentication and Authorization

Depending on your app’s features and usability, you might need to implement authentication and authorization mechanisms in it, ensuring that only authorized clients can access the platform.

Logging and Monitoring

Besides security and scalability features, logging and monitoring of the app is also crucial to track its health and performance, helping you troubleshoot issues and optimize performance.

Why Is Golang the Best Bet for Developing Apps?

Golang is a progressive and open-source programming language with a stack of must-use features. The creators of Golang were determined to innovate a language with the potential to run multiple ongoing tasks simultaneously by creating subroutines from the number of cores defined in the processor.

But what makes it a preferred choice among the developer community?

Well, conventional programming languages like C, C++, and Java are powered by a single-core processor to progress multi-threading processing. Golang is renowned for being among the top-ranked statically typed languages with a distinctive library meant to deliver outstanding speed & performance capabilities to the end product.

All programs defined in Golang are combined together in packages to let developers manage dependencies with high efficiency. Like using other dynamic languages, users can enjoy error-free coding and develop apps quickly with apt websockets in Golang.

Besides this, here are a few stats and facts that show why businesses choose Golang development for app development projects.

• More than 32% of experienced programmers pick Golang over other programming languages for learning purposes.
• According to the Stack Overflow Development Survey, the Go language was one of the most desired and preferred languages among the respondents.
• Numerous tech giants and industry leaders, such as Google, Netflix, American Express, Twitter, and IBM are the early adopters of this language.
• There are over 1.1+ million professional developers who use Golang primarily. However, this figure could be observed as ~2.7+ million as many developers use other programming languages along with Go.

Golang is a perfect choice to create scalable web app solutions with worthwhile features for real-time chatting, tracking, online gaming & other event-driven functionalities accessed on the browser.

How Can Appventurez Help You with Using Websockets in Golang to Create Immersive Apps?

The skyrocketing demand for apps driven by real-time functionalities excites both developers and businesses to learn about advanced solutions that hold the potential to fulfill them. That’s why the urge to learn and work with websockets in Golang has immensely increased lately.

Being a professional Golang development company, Appventurez ensures to build enterprise-ready solutions structured with error-free codes and interactive UI/UX designs. We have been serving clients at a global level, catering to their needs to get a real-time app that extends their business efficiency and growth.

Our team of inquisitive tech minds takes the lead in brainstorming new ideas and techniques to deliver user-centric web and mobile app solutions based on Go. Our web socket-based apps not only survive in the tech world but also help build your brand value in no time.