What is SignalR for real-time connectivity?
With the development of many applications that provide real-time communication with clients, many developers are turning to WebSockets or HTTP Long Polling to deliver this functionality. Both protocols (and many others) allow bi-directional communication where a connection is consistently constant between server and client.
Is SignalR encrypted?
Like any messaging system, you can think of encryption in two ways:
- In transit between endpoints: By default, SignalR uses HTTPS to encrypt data between the client and server.
- The message data itself: SignalR allows messages to be encrypted prior to transmission, meaning messages are encrypted end-to-end and not subject to potential man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
How many SignalR connections can a server handle?
The protocol does not limit the number of server connections but like any messaging system, there will be practical limitations that depend on the server hardware and server software configuration. By design, SignalR will scale well and a single server can handle tens of thousands of concurrent connections, though load balancing is recommended for large systems to distribute traffic across multiple servers.
What is the use of SignalR?
To enhance these protocols, Microsoft ASP.NET developed SignalR, a software library that utilizes traditional HTTP connections that allow real-time connectivity between server and clients. Microsoft developed an API that manages the connectivity between clients and servers automatically. It supports both server push and broadcasting functionality. The division of server and client connectivity is managed through a protocol where:- A client is defined as any connected device, a desktop computer, a smartphone, a smart TV, etc. By using HTTP, SignalR connects server and clients through what is known as an open-connection that keeps connectivity open and allows bi-directional communication.
- The only time that the connectivity is terminated is when the client physically terminates the connectivity or if they lose online connectivity.
With these capabilities, SignalR is ideal for developing applications such as:- Chat applications
- Collaborative apps, like multi-user whiteboards or project management tools
- Online gaming
- Automatic updating of applications, like dashboards or real-time maps
- Notifications and alerts
