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Polling vs. WebSockets vs. Server Actions in React/Next.js

January 8, 2025 • 16 min read

Polling

  • ⏰Simple Implementation – Easy to understand and debug
  • 🔄HTTP-based – Works with existing REST APIs
  • ⚡Configurable Intervals – Control update frequency

WebSockets

  • 🚀Real-time Updates – Instant bidirectional communication
  • 💰Efficient – Lower bandwidth after connection
  • 🔄Persistent Connection – No repeated handshakes

Server Actions

  • ⚡Next.js Native – Built-in server-side execution
  • 🎯Type Safety – End-to-end TypeScript support
  • 🔄Progressive Enhancement – Works without JavaScript

Choosing the right data synchronization strategy can make or break your user experience. After building real-time features for applications serving millions of users, I've learned when to use polling, WebSockets, or Next.js Server Actions. Each approach has its sweet spot—let's explore them with practical examples.

When to Use Each Approach

Use Polling For:

  • • Dashboard metrics (5-30 second updates)
  • • Background job status checking
  • • Simple notifications
  • • When WebSocket infrastructure isn't available

Use WebSockets For:

  • • Live chat applications
  • • Real-time collaboration (like Figma)
  • • Live sports scores/trading data
  • • Multiplayer games

Use Server Actions For:

  • • Form submissions with validation
  • • CRUD operations in Next.js
  • • User interactions (likes, follows)
  • • Progressive enhancement scenarios

Performance Comparison

Polling
Latency: 2.5-15s avg
Bandwidth: High (repeated requests)
Battery: Moderate impact
Complexity: Low
WebSockets
Latency: under 50ms real-time
Bandwidth: Low (after setup)
Battery: Higher impact
Complexity: High
Server Actions
Latency: Request-based
Bandwidth: Optimized
Battery: Low impact
Complexity: Low-Medium

The best approach depends on your specific use case. For dashboard updates, smart polling works great. For real-time collaboration, WebSockets are essential. For form interactions in Next.js, Server Actions provide the best developer experience with built-in optimizations.

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