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Build Real-time Chat App with Node.js & Socket.IO

Learn how to create a real-time chat application using Node.js and Socket.IO.

This guide covers server setup, client-side implementation, and essential features for modern chat functionality.
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Building a Chat Application with Node.js and Socket.IO

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Real-time communication has become essential in modern web applications. Today, I’ll guide you through building a chat application using Node.js and Socket.IO, making it easy to understand even for beginners.

What is Socket.IO?

Socket.IO enables real-time, bidirectional communication between web clients and servers. Think of it as a special phone line that stays open, allowing instant message delivery between users.

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Setting Up the Project

First, let’s create our project structure and install the necessary dependencies:

Terminal window
mkdir chat-app
cd chat-app
npm init -y
npm install express socket.io

Creating the Server

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const http = require('http').createServer(app);
const io = require('socket.io')(http);
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.sendFile(__dirname + '/index.html');
});
io.on('connection', (socket) => {
console.log('A user connected');
socket.on('chat message', (msg) => {
io.emit('chat message', msg);
});
socket.on('disconnect', () => {
console.log('User disconnected');
});
});
http.listen(3000, () => {
console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

Building the Frontend

Create an index.html file with a simple chat interface:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Chat App</title>
<style>
#messages { list-style-type: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
#messages li { padding: 5px 10px; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<ul id="messages"></ul>
<form id="form">
<input id="input" autocomplete="off" /><button>Send</button>
</form>
<script src="/socket.io/socket.io.js"></script>
<script>
const socket = io();
const form = document.getElementById('form');
const input = document.getElementById('input');
form.addEventListener('submit', (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
if (input.value) {
socket.emit('chat message', input.value);
input.value = '';
}
});
socket.on('chat message', (msg) => {
const item = document.createElement('li');
item.textContent = msg;
messages.appendChild(item);
window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight);
});
</script>
</body>
</html>

How it Works

When a user sends a message, Socket.IO emits the message to our server. The server then broadcasts this message to all connected clients, creating a seamless chat experience. The beauty of Socket.IO is its ability to handle these real-time communications efficiently and reliably.

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Additional Features

You can enhance your chat application by adding features like:

  • User nicknames
  • Private messaging
  • Typing indicators
  • Message history
  • Room creation

Remember to handle edge cases and implement proper error handling in a production environment.

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