Ever wonder how video calls work in your browser? Or how chat apps send messages instantly? Or how some file-sharing sites don't actually store your files on their servers?

The answer involves three technologies with confusing names: WebRTC, WebSockets, and WebTorrent. They all help send data across the internet, but in very different ways.

Let's break it down without the jargon.

First, the old way

Normally, websites work like this:

1. You click something
2. Your browser asks the website's server for information
3. The server sends it back
4. Repeat for every single action

This is fine for reading articles or shopping online. But it's terrible for things that need to happen right now like video calls, live chat, or multiplayer games.

WebSockets: The always-open phone line

What it does: Keeps a constant connection open between you and a server.

Think of regular websites like sending letters back and forth. WebSockets is more like having a phone call that never hangs up. Once connected, both sides can send messages instantly without waiting.

Real-world examples:

• Chat apps (WhatsApp Web, Slack)
• Live sports scores that update automatically
• Collaborative tools like Google Docs where you see others typing
• Stock tickers that show prices changing in real-time

How it works for you: When you open a chat app, WebSockets connects you to the company's server. Every message you send goes to their server, which then sends it to your friend. It's fast because the connection stays open no need to reconnect for each message.

The catch: Everything still goes through the company's server. They see all your messages (unless they're encrypted), and if their server goes down, nothing works.

WebRTC: Direct connection (no middleman)

What it does: Connects your device directly to someone else's device.

This is the big one. Instead of sending your data to a company's server first, WebRTC lets your device talk directly to another person's device. It's like calling someone's cell phone directly instead of going through a switchboard operator.

Real-world examples:

• Video calls (Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime in browser)
• File sharing without uploading to a server first
• Multiplayer games where players connect to each other
• Remote desktop tools

How it works for you: When you video call someone using WebRTC, your camera feed goes straight from your device to theirs. The company's server only helps you find each other and start the connection it doesn't see or store the actual video.

Why this matters:

• Faster: No server in the middle means less delay
• More private: Your data doesn't sit on someone else's computer
• Cheaper for companies: They don't pay for bandwidth to transfer your stuff

The catch: Both people need to be online at the same time. You can't send a file to someone who's offline. Also, some corporate firewalls make direct connections difficult.

WebTorrent: Everyone shares pieces

What it does: Splits files into pieces and lets people download from multiple sources at once.

You know how BitTorrent works for downloading movies (legally, of course)? WebTorrent brings that same idea to your web browser. Instead of one person hosting a file, dozens or hundreds of people each share small pieces of it.

Real-world examples:

• Sharing large video files
• Distributing software updates
• Streaming videos where viewers help distribute the content
• Any situation where many people want the same file

How it works for you: Imagine you want to download a big video file. With WebTorrent:

1. The file is broken into 100 small pieces
2. You might download piece #1 from Person A, piece #2 from Person B, piece #3 from Person C
3. As you download pieces, you also share them with others
4. Everyone helps everyone else

Why this matters: The more popular a file is, the faster it downloads (opposite of normal). If 1,000 people are downloading the same file, they're all helping each other get it faster.

The catch: If nobody else has the file, you can't download it. Less popular files might be slow or unavailable. Also, everyone can see that you're downloading it.

So which one is "best"?

They're not competing they're tools for different jobs:

Use WebSockets when:

• You need instant updates from a server
• You're building a chat app, live dashboard, or notification system
• A central server makes sense for your use case

Use WebRTC when:

• You want direct connections between people
• Privacy matters (data doesn't touch servers)
• You're doing video calls, screen sharing, or direct file transfers
• You want to save on server costs

Use WebTorrent when:

• You're distributing large files to many people
• You want to avoid paying for bandwidth
• The file is popular and many people want it
• You're okay with files only being available when people are sharing them

Why you should care

Even if you're not building websites, understanding these technologies helps you understand:

Your privacy: Apps using WebRTC for video calls are more private than those sending everything through servers.

Why some things are free: Services using WebRTC or WebTorrent save money on servers and bandwidth, which is why they can offer more for free.

Performance differences: Direct connections (WebRTC) are faster than going through servers (WebSockets).

Reliability: Services relying on WebSockets need good servers. WebTorrent needs active users sharing files.

The bottom line

The internet isn't just one thing there are different ways to move data around:

• WebSockets = You ↔ Server ↔ Other Person (fast, centralized)
• WebRTC = You ↔ Other Person (fastest, direct, private)
• WebTorrent = You ↔ Many People (distributed, efficient for popular stuff)

Most modern apps use a mix of these. A video call app might use WebSockets for chat messages and WebRTC for the actual video. A file-sharing service might use WebRTC for direct transfers and WebTorrent for popular files.

The technology behind your apps matters. It affects speed, privacy, cost, and reliability. Now you know what's actually happening when you click that video call button or send that file.

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See WebRTC in action

Want to see how direct file sharing works? Try NotesQR - it uses WebRTC to send files directly between devices without storing them on any server.

Questions? Hit us up on LinkedIn or X.com.