WebSocket Connection Tester
Connect to any WebSocket server, send messages, and inspect incoming frames in real time. Test your WebSocket endpoints directly in your browser.
📡 Real-time connection
Connect to any WebSocket endpoint — ws:// or wss:// — and maintain a live persistent connection for as long as you need.
📨 Send & receive
Send text messages, JSON payloads, or ping frames and see responses appear in the live message log instantly.
📋 Message history
Every sent and received message is logged with a timestamp and direction indicator so you can trace the full conversation.
⚡ Quick messages
One-click presets for common messages like ping, hello, and JSON event payloads — no typing needed for quick tests.
🔒 Secure & private
Connections go directly from your browser to your server. No proxy, no middleman, no logging of your messages.
🌐 ws:// & wss://
Test both secure (wss://) and non-secure (ws://) WebSocket connections. Switch protocols with a single click.
How to use the WebSocket Tester
What is a WebSocket?
A WebSocket is a persistent, two-way communication channel between a browser and a server. Unlike HTTP where the client always initiates a request and waits for a response, WebSockets allow the server to push data to the client at any time. The connection stays open until explicitly closed by either side. This makes WebSockets ideal for real-time applications like chat, live dashboards, collaborative editing, multiplayer games, and live price feeds.
WebSocket vs HTTP — key differences
HTTP is a request-response protocol — the client asks, the server answers, and the connection closes. WebSocket starts as an HTTP connection and then upgrades to a persistent socket connection using the WebSocket handshake. Once connected, both sides can send messages freely without the overhead of repeated HTTP headers. WebSocket URLs use ws:// for unsecured connections and wss:// for SSL-encrypted connections, equivalent to http:// and https://.
Testing a WebSocket connection
To test a WebSocket endpoint, paste the ws:// or wss:// URL into the connection field and click Connect. The tester opens a persistent connection and shows the connection status in real time. Once connected you can send text messages, JSON payloads, or ping frames and watch the server's responses appear in the message log. Each message is timestamped and labeled as sent or received so you can trace the full conversation.
Sending JSON over WebSockets
Most WebSocket APIs exchange JSON messages rather than plain text. A typical message might look like {"type":"subscribe","channel":"prices","symbol":"BTC"}. Paste the JSON into the message field and click Send. The server's response will appear in the log immediately. This is the fastest way to verify that your WebSocket server is receiving and responding to messages correctly before writing client code.
Common use cases
Developers use the WebSocket Tester to verify that a WebSocket server is reachable and responding, test subscription and authentication flows before implementing them in code, debug message formats and event payloads, check that a server correctly handles connection and disconnection events, and monitor live data streams from WebSocket APIs. It is particularly useful when building real-time features like notifications, live scores, stock tickers, or collaborative tools.