Online WebSocket Tester

A free online client to test and debug WebSocket connections. Connect to any WS or WSS server, send and receive messages in real-time, configure heartbeats, and filter logs.

Connection Status

Disconnected

Heartbeat

Message Log

Send Message

Key Features for Developers

Real-Time Message Log

Instantly see sent and received messages with clear timestamps. Filter the log by keywords or hide heartbeat traffic to focus on what matters.

Configurable Heartbeat

Keep your connection alive by sending periodic pings. Customize the interval, payload, and the expected server response to keep your log clean.

WSS & WS Support

Seamlessly connect to both secure (`wss://`) and insecure (`ws://`) endpoints. The tool provides helpful warnings for mixed-content policies.

How to Use the WebSocket Tester

  1. Enter Server URL: Type the full address of your WebSocket server into the input field (e.g., `wss://echo.websocket.events`).
  2. Establish Connection: Click the "Connect" button. The status indicator will show "Connecting" and turn green ("Connected") on a successful link.
  3. Send Messages: In the "Send Message" box, enter any text or JSON payload and click "Send". Your message will appear in the log, marked as `[SENT]`.
  4. Monitor Responses: Watch the "Message Log" for incoming data from the server, which will be marked as `[RECV]`.
  5. Disconnect: Once your testing is complete, click "Disconnect" to close the connection cleanly.

Why Test Your WebSocket Connections?

A reliable WebSocket connection is critical for real-time applications. Using a dedicated tester helps you:

  • Debug Communication Issues: Quickly identify if the server is receiving messages correctly and inspect the exact data it sends back.
  • Verify Handshake & Connection: Ensure your server's WebSocket endpoint is live, accessible, and correctly configured for WSS/WS protocols.
  • Test Heartbeat Logic: Confirm that your server responds correctly to client pings to keep the connection alive through firewalls and proxies.
  • Prototype Client Behavior: Simulate messages from a client to test how your backend processes different data formats and commands before writing any frontend code.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a WebSocket?

WebSocket is a communication protocol that provides a persistent, full-duplex communication channel over a single TCP connection. Unlike traditional HTTP, it allows the server to push data to the client in real-time, making it ideal for applications like live chat, online gaming, and financial data streams.

Why can't I connect to a 'ws://' URL from this secure 'https://' page?

Modern browsers enforce a security policy called 'mixed content blocking'. This prevents a secure page (loaded over HTTPS) from making insecure requests (to HTTP or WS URLs). To connect to an insecure 'ws://' server, you must load this testing tool from its insecure 'http://' address. The tool will automatically detect this and provide you with the correct link to use.

What is a WebSocket heartbeat (ping/pong)?

A heartbeat is a small, periodic message sent by the client or server to check if the connection is still alive and prevent it from being closed due to inactivity by network intermediaries like proxies or firewalls. Our tool allows you to enable an automated heartbeat with a custom message (ping) and define the expected response (pong) to hide from the log.