WebSockets enable real-time communication in Java apps by maintaining open connections. 1. Use JSR 356 via Java EE 7 or frameworks like Spring. 2. Ensure server support (Tomcat 8 , Jetty 9 , WildFly). 3. Add Maven dependency and annotate endpoints with @ServerEndpoint. 4. Manage sessions via Session objects and store them thread-safely. 5. Send messages using session.getBasicRemote().sendText(). 6. Handle errors and closures with @OnError and @OnClose. 7. On frontend, connect via JavaScript WebSocket API, listen for messages, and implement reconnection logic. 8. Secure connections using WSS in production.
WebSockets are a game-changer when it comes to building real-time Java applications. Unlike traditional HTTP requests that require the client to poll for updates, WebSockets maintain an open connection between the client and server, allowing for instant data exchange in both directions.

Setting Up WebSocket Support in Java
To get started with WebSockets in Java, you’ll typically use the Java API for WebSocket (JSR 356), which is part of Java EE 7 and above. Most modern Java web frameworks like Spring or Jakarta EE support this out of the box.
Here’s what you need to do:

- Make sure your application server supports JSR 356 — Tomcat 8 , Jetty 9 , or WildFly are good choices.
- If you're using Maven, include the WebSocket dependency if it’s not already there.
- Annotate your endpoint class with
@ServerEndpoint
and register a server endpoint configurator if needed.
For example, a basic WebSocket endpoint looks like this:
@ServerEndpoint("/chat") public class ChatEndpoint { @OnOpen public void onOpen(Session session) { // Handle new connection } @OnMessage public void onMessage(String message, Session session) { // Handle incoming message } }
Make sure your endpoint URL is unique and well-structured so clients can connect easily.

Managing Sessions and Sending Messages
Once a client connects, you’ll want to manage sessions effectively. Each Session
object represents a connection to a client. You can store these sessions in a static collection to broadcast messages to all connected users.
Here are some practical tips:
- Keep track of active sessions using a
ConcurrentHashMap
or similar thread-safe structure. - Use
session.getBasicRemote().sendText()
to send text messages back to the client. - Handle errors and close events gracefully with
@OnError
and@OnClose
.
A common pattern is to create a central registry:
public class SessionRegistry { private static Set<Session> sessions = new CopyOnWriteArraySet<>(); public static void addSession(Session session) { sessions.add(session); } public static void removeSession(Session session) { sessions.remove(session); } public static void broadcast(String message) { sessions.forEach(session -> { try { session.getBasicRemote().sendText(message); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } }); } }
This setup allows you to push notifications or live updates to all connected clients instantly.
Integrating with Frontend Clients
On the frontend, JavaScript handles the client-side WebSocket connection. It's straightforward to connect to your Java backend using the browser’s native WebSocket API.
Here’s how to set up a simple client:
- Use
new WebSocket("ws://yourdomain/chat")
to establish a connection. - Listen for messages with
websocket.onmessage = function(event) { ... }
. - Send messages using
websocket.send("Hello Server")
.
Don’t forget to handle reconnection logic in case the connection drops. Many apps implement a retry mechanism with exponential backoff to avoid overwhelming the server.
Also, make sure to enable CORS and secure your endpoints if needed. Using WSS (WebSocket Secure) instead of WS is highly recommended in production environments.
That’s the core of setting up real-time communication in Java with WebSockets. It takes a bit of boilerplate to get going, but once it’s running, it opens up a lot of possibilities for live dashboards, chat apps, notifications, and more.
The above is the detailed content of Building Real-time Java Applications with WebSockets. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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