Why I Replaced WebSocket with Server-Sent Events (SSE) for Real-Time Updates

When I first started working with real-time apps, I thought WebSocket was the only solution. Everybody in developer forums was saying “Use WebSocket for real-time.” So naturally, I did. But soon I learned something important: sometimes WebSocket is overkill, and a simpler option works much better Server-Sent Events (SSE).

The Project: Real-Time Dashboard

I was building a small dashboard that shows status updates from the server. Every time new data came in, users should see it instantly, without refreshing.

In my head, the answer was clear: “I need WebSocket. This is real-time.”

So I set it up.

The Struggle with WebSocket

At first, WebSocket looked powerful. But after a few hours, I started hitting problems:

  • Needed extra server configuration to keep the websocket server running.
  • My app only needed server → client updates, but WebSocket is built for two-way communication.
  • I had to handle reconnect logic manually, which added more code.
  • It felt like I was using a big hammer for a small nail.

I realized that I didn’t need chat-level complexity for a simple dashboard.

Then I came across Server-Sent Events (SSE). Honestly, I thought it was too simple to be useful. But I gave it a try.

And it just worked:

  • I wrote only a few lines of code.
  • The browser started receiving updates immediately.
  • If the network dropped, it auto reconnected without me doing anything.
  • No tricky server config, just plain HTTP.

It was everything I needed and nothing I didn’t.

The big lesson I learned that:

  • WebSocket is great when you need two-way communication (chat apps, multiplayer games, collaborative editors).
  • SSE is perfect when you only need the server to push updates (dashboards, notifications, stock tickers, logs).

In my project, WebSocket was overkill, and SSE was the right tool.

Next time you need real-time updates, ask yourself one simple question:
Do I really need two-way communication?

If the answer is no, then maybe WebSocket is not what you need. Try SSE instead, it’s lighter, simpler, and often just works.