Why it matters

Streaming is table stakes for good UX. Understanding transport enables selection.

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The architecture

SSE: server-to-client only. HTTP-based. Simplest.

WebSocket: bidirectional. Enables mid-generation input.

gRPC streaming: for backend-to-backend.

Streaming transportsSSEone-way HTTPWebSocketbidirectionalgRPC streambackendSSE for web UI simplicity; WebSocket for interactivity; gRPC for services
Transport options.
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How it works end to end

Event framing: JSON per event line for SSE; message per frame for WS/gRPC.

Backpressure: slow clients require flow control.

Reconnection: SSE has native support via Last-Event-ID.