In JavaScript, "wss" refers to the secure WebSocket protocol, which is essentially WebSocket over TLS (Transport Layer Security). It provides an encrypted and more reliable connection between a client (like a web browser) and a server, similar to how HTTPS provides a secure connection over HTTP.
Key aspects of WSS in JavaScript:
Encryption:
WSS encrypts the data transmitted between the client and server, preventing eavesdropping and tampering by intermediaries. This is crucial for sensitive data.
Reliability:
Because the data is encrypted, proxies and other network devices are less likely to interfere with the connection, leading to a more stable and reliable communication channel.
Usage with WebSocket API:
When creating a WebSocket connection in the browser using the WebSocket API, you specify the wss:// protocol in the URL for a secure connection:
JavaScript
let socket = new WebSocket("wss://your-secure-websocket-server.com");
Server-side Implementation:
While the WebSocket API is built into browsers for client-side use, implementing a WSS server typically requires a server-side language and a library that supports secure WebSockets (e.g., the ws library in Node.js, or similar libraries in other languages). The server needs to be configured with SSL/TLS certificates to establish the secure connection.
Event Handling:
Once a WSS connection is established, you interact with it in JavaScript using the same event listeners as with a standard ws:// connection:
onopen: Fired when the connection is established.
onmessage: Fired when data is received from the server.
onerror: Fired if an error occurs.
onclose: Fired when the connection is closed.