Polling
Polling is a programming technique where a client or system repeatedly checks (polls) a server, device, or resource at regular intervals to determine if new data, events, or status changes are available. It involves making periodic requests to query for updates, often in a loop, rather than waiting for notifications. This approach is commonly used in scenarios where real-time push mechanisms are unavailable or impractical.
Developers should use polling when building applications that need to monitor state changes, fetch updates from APIs without WebSocket support, or interact with hardware devices that lack event-driven interfaces. It's particularly useful in legacy systems, simple client-server architectures, or environments with limited network capabilities, though it can be inefficient due to constant requests and potential latency.