Skip to main content
Toolbox
Developer Tools

WebSocket & SSE Live Stream Inspector

Connect to real-time WebSockets (ws://, wss://) and Server-Sent Events (EventSource), inspect bidirectional traffic frames, send custom JSON payloads, and test heartbeat pings directly in your browser.

Quick Answer & Summary

The WebSocket & SSE Live Stream Inspector is a fast, accurate Developer Tools utility designed to connect to real-time websockets (ws://, wss://) and server-sent events (eventsource), inspect bidirectional traffic frames, send custom json payloads, and test heartbeat pings directly in your browser. entirely in your browser with zero server data storage.

WebSocket & SSE Live Stream Inspector

Connect to real-time WebSockets (ws://, wss://) and Server-Sent Events (EventSource), inspect bidirectional traffic frames, and test heartbeat pings.

Presets:

Payload Composer

Live Traffic Stream (0)

DISCONNECTED

No stream messages yet. Click Connect to initiate live traffic.

Real-Time Streaming Protocols: WebSocket RFC 6455 & EventSource Architecture

Building responsive interactive web applications requires real-time data synchronization. Understanding the operational differences between WebSockets and Server-Sent Events is essential for choosing the right transport architecture.

Protocol Characteristics Comparison

  • WebSocket (RFC 6455): Upgrades an HTTP connection via Upgrade: websocket header. Operates over TCP with custom binary framing (FIN, Opcode, Masking key, Payload length). Ideal for chats, multiplayer gaming, and financial order books.
  • Server-Sent Events (W3C EventSource): Operates over standard HTTP/1.1 or HTTP/2 using MIME type text/event-stream. Includes automatic reconnection, event IDs, and custom event names. Ideal for live stock tickers, AI LLM token streaming, and notifications.

Share This Tool

Help your team and fellow developers save time with free, private client-side utilities.

TB
Toolbox Editorial TeamVerified Authors

Systems & Security Engineers • Applied Cryptography & High-Performance Web Tools

Updated:
100% In-BrowserZero server storage
Standards AuditedRFC & ISO compliant
Peer ReviewedEditorial Policy
Documentation & Guide

How to Use WebSocket & SSE Live Stream Inspector

1

Choose Protocol & Endpoint

Select WebSocket (WS/WSS) or Server-Sent Events (SSE) and enter your server URL (e.g. wss://echo.websocket.org).

2

Connect to Stream

Click "Connect" to establish a live bidirectional full-duplex socket or EventSource stream directly from your browser.

3

Send Custom Payloads

Compose text or JSON messages in the Payload Composer and click "Send Message", or toggle "Auto-Ping (5s)" for heartbeats.

4

Inspect & Export Traffic

Review real-time incoming and outgoing frames with timestamp badges, filter messages with text search, and export the log as JSON.

Practical Examples & Conversions

Input
wss://echo.websocket.org, Payload: { "action": "ping" }
Output
Real-time response frame returned with server timestamp

Frequently Asked Questions (PAA)

Related Tools & Converters

Authoritative Standards & Citations

Calculations and algorithms on this page are implemented and verified in strict accordance with the following official technical specifications: