# ws

> MIT fast, tested WebSocket client and server for Node

**Category:** Libraries  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://github.com/websockets/ws  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/websockets/ws  
**Added:** 2026-10-18

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## The Hook

ws is a simple, fast WebSocket client and server for Node.js, and the library underneath many real-time Node apps and frameworks.

## What's Good

MIT (websockets/ws), release 8.22.0 (2026-09-26), maintained since 2011. Passes the extensive Autobahn test suite for both server and client. Optional native add-ons for extra performance. A small API that stays close to the protocol. ★~22.8k.

## The Catch

Node only; browsers must use the native WebSocket. It is low-level, so rooms, reconnection and fallbacks are your job (or use Socket.IO). Recent Node versions ship a built-in WebSocket client.

## Verdict

The default raw WebSocket library for Node servers.