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Guide · Open source

How to use Java-WebSocket: setup, client and server basics

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Java-WebSocket is an open-source Java library that lets one program act as either a WebSocket client or a WebSocket server. This guide explains what it does, when it fits a project, how to get the source, and what to check before you start writing code. The README excerpt this guide is based on is truncated, so it does not include API code samples; the sections below point you to the right places for those.

Java-WebSocketTooTallNate/Java-WebSocket · ★ 10.8k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Confirm it fits your project. Check that you need real-time, two-way messaging in a Java application and that a barebones library is what you want.
  2. 2Check your Java version. The README excerpt does not state a required Java version, so confirm it in the full README before you begin.
  3. 3Clone the repository. Run the git clone command from the README to download the source code to your machine.
  4. 4Read the full README for usage. Use the full README and project homepage to find client and server examples, since the excerpt does not include them.

What does Java-WebSocket do?

WebSockets let a web app or device keep a two-way connection open so messages can flow in both directions in real time. Java-WebSocket provides this as a Java library, so a Java program can open a WebSocket connection as a client or accept connections as a server.

The project describes itself as barebones. It supplies the core protocol handling rather than a large framework with built-in routing and extra features.

  • Acts as a WebSocket client or a WebSocket server
  • Written in 100% Java, with no native code
  • Released under the MIT licence

Is Java-WebSocket the right tool for your project?

Java-WebSocket suits Java developers who need real-time, two-way messaging between applications, or who want a simple WebSocket server or client inside an existing Java application. It is a good match when you want a pure-Java dependency.

It is not a ready-made app. It is a code library, so non-programmers will need a different product. If you want a full web framework with routing and built-in features, the README's barebones description suggests a framework-style project such as those listed below may be a better fit.

  • Good fit: Java developers adding real-time messaging to a Java app
  • Good fit: projects that want a pure-Java dependency
  • Poor fit: people looking for a finished application
  • Poor fit: teams that need a full web framework
  • Poor fit: projects written in languages other than Java

How do you get the Java-WebSocket source code?

The README gives a git clone command to fetch the repository. Run it in the folder where you keep your projects. The repository then appears as a local folder you can open in your IDE or build tool.

The README excerpt does not list a separate package-manager install command, so check the project's full README or homepage for how to add the library to your build.

git clone https://github.com/TooTallNate/Java-WebSocket.git

What do you need before you start?

The main prerequisite is Java. The README excerpt does not specify which Java version is required, so confirm this in the full README before you start a project.

Because the library is written in 100% Java, you do not need to install native libraries for it to work, according to the project description.

  • A working Java installation (required version not stated in the excerpt)
  • Git, to clone the repository
  • An IDE or build tool of your choice

How do you build a client or server with it?

The README excerpt does not include code samples for creating a client or server, so this guide does not show them. The full README and the project homepage are the places to find the API usage.

When you read the examples, the main idea is the same for both roles: a client connects to a server address, while a server listens for incoming connections and handles messages from them.

  • Read the full README for client and server examples
  • Check the project homepage for further documentation
  • Test your client and server on your own machine before deploying

How does Java-WebSocket compare to similar projects?

The project is commonly compared with Jetty WebSocket, Netty and Spring WebSocket. These are different kinds of tools. Netty is a networking framework, Spring WebSocket is part of the Spring ecosystem, and Jetty WebSocket is part of the Jetty server. Java-WebSocket is the most focused of the group, since it is a barebones library.

Choose based on what you already use. If your project is built on Spring or Jetty, the matching WebSocket module may fit better. If you want a small, standalone library with no framework, Java-WebSocket is the simpler option.

  • Java-WebSocket: barebones, client and server library
  • Netty: general networking framework
  • Spring WebSocket: WebSocket support within the Spring ecosystem
  • Jetty WebSocket: WebSocket support within the Jetty server

What people use it for

  • Pushing live updates from a Java server to connected clients
  • Sending messages between two Java applications over a persistent connection
  • Adding a simple WebSocket endpoint to an existing Java application
  • Connecting a Java program to a WebSocket server run by another system

Frequently asked questions

Is Java-WebSocket free to use?

Yes. Java-WebSocket is released under the MIT licence, as listed on the project page. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms.

What is Java-WebSocket used for?

It lets a Java program act as a WebSocket client or server, so messages can flow both ways over an open connection in real time. It is a code library, not a finished application.

What do I need to run Java-WebSocket?

You need Java. The README excerpt does not state a minimum version, so check the full README before starting. The library is written in 100% Java.

What are the alternatives to Java-WebSocket?

Projects often compared with it include Jetty WebSocket, Netty and Spring WebSocket. Netty is a general networking framework, while Spring WebSocket and Jetty WebSocket belong to their respective ecosystems.

Does Java-WebSocket need native code?

No. The project describes itself as a pure-Java implementation written in 100% Java, so it does not depend on native code.

Where can I find code examples for Java-WebSocket?

The README excerpt used for this guide is truncated and contains no code samples. The full README and the project homepage at tootallnate.github.io/Java-WebSocket are the places to look.

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Our verdict

Java-WebSocket is a good choice for Java developers who want a small, pure-Java library for real-time two-way messaging as a client or server. It is not suited to non-programmers wanting a ready-made app, to teams who need a full web framework, or to projects outside Java.

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