What browsers support HTML5 WebSocket API?

WebSocket significance and mobile support

WebSocket API is a crucial tool for creating real-time web applications — it opens stable, two-way communication lines between a client and a server.

For mobile-friendly experience, here's the coverage:

• iOS Safari: ✔️ (since v4.2)
• Firefox Mobile: ✔️ (since v11)
• Opera Mobile: ✔️ (since v12.1)

WebSocket retrofitting for old browsers

If you're dealing with older browsers, you can add WebSocket capabilities using JavaScript libraries like:

• Socket.IO: A solid choice that falls back to long polling if necessary.
• web-socket-js: A Flash-based polyfill that brings WebSocket API to older browsers.

Server-side WebSocket support

The WebSocket protocol is widely supported in server-side implementations:

• Jetty: ✔️ (since v7.0+)
• GlassFish: ✔️ (since v3.0+)
• Tomcat: ✔️ (since v7.0.27)

For developers working with non-Java stacks, here are some options:

• XSockets.NET: If you are a .NET hipster.
• Ratchet: Its name is a pun, and it's for PHP.
• libwebsockets: It's C, with love.

WebSocket tools by language

When dealing with WebSockets, language-specific libraries can come in handy:

• C#: Try SignalR, it's not just a band from the '80s.
• PHP: Ratchet has a buddy called php-websocket.
• Python: Tornado is not just about bad weather, and websocket-client is as direct as it sounds.
• Node.js: WS and Socket.IO are the dynamic duo here.

Cloud support for WebSockets

Many cloud platforms support WebSocket protocols:

• Pusher.com: It truly pushes the limits of WebSocket infrastructure.
• AWS: with API Gateway & Lambda, AWS is ready to party with WebSockets.
• Heroku: WebSocket deployments as easy as pie.

Verifying standard compliance

Ensuring your WebSocket implementation meets the global standard is crucial:

• Autobahn is not just a fast road in Germany, it's also a conformance testing tool for WebSocket.
• RFC 6455: the WebSocket protocol specification, no big deal.