Short Polling vs Long Polling - A Comprehensive Guide for Developers

When building React applications, developers face the challenge of keeping the UI fresh with server updates without requiring manual page reloads, which is where polling techniques come in. Short polling and long polling are two common approaches to achieve a dynamic, real-time experience. Short polling involves repeatedly checking with the server at regular intervals for updates, similar to a child asking "Are we there yet?" during a road trip. This approach is straightforward to implement but can be wasteful and put a load on the server. Long polling, on the other hand, involves the server waiting until it has something new to tell the app, similar to leaving a phone number with a store and waiting for a call when the order is ready. Long polling is kinder to the server when updates are infrequent and provides a snappier experience for users. However, it requires the server to handle holding connections open, which not all servers can do well. The choice between short polling and long polling depends on the specific app needs, server capabilities, and the importance of a real-time experience. Common mistakes to avoid when implementing polling include polling too frequently, forgetting error handling, creating zombie processes, overloading servers, and sticking with polling when better options exist. Ultimately, both polling techniques have their place in a developer's toolkit, and the best choice depends on the specific requirements of the application.