WebSocket Connection Dropped Unexpectedly
Real-time features using WebSocket connections drop unexpectedly. Client loses connection to server with no reconnection attempt. Users experience gaps in real-time updates or are suddenly disconnected.
Connection works initially but doesn't handle network interruptions or server resets gracefully.
Error Messages You Might See
Common Causes
- No heartbeat/ping-pong to keep connection alive
- No reconnection logic, drops permanently on disconnection
- Server timeout killing idle connections
- Network interruption not detected by client
- Large messages causing buffer overflow and disconnect
How to Fix It
Implement ping-pong heartbeat: server sends ping every 30s, client responds pong. Implement auto-reconnect with exponential backoff: 1s, 2s, 4s, etc. Set reasonable timeouts. Handle onclose event to trigger reconnect. Queue messages while disconnected, flush on reconnect. Monitor connection state in UI: show 'offline' badge when disconnected.
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
How to keep WebSocket alive?
Implement ping-pong. Server sends ping frame every 30s. Client responds pong. Resets timeout counter.
How to reconnect automatically?
onclose event triggers reconnect with exponential backoff: setTimeout(() => connect(), delay). Delay grows: 1s, 2s, 4s, etc.
Should messages be queued while offline?
Yes. Store in array while disconnected. On reconnect, flush queue: queue.forEach(msg => send(msg)).