> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://gcore-doc-1894.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Allow permanent connections with the origin

WebSockets is a CDN resource option that proxies WebSocket connections to the origin server, maintaining them for the full duration of a session. It is suitable for real-time applications — chat, gaming, live data feeds, and collaborative tools — that require a continuous data channel.

## WebSocket overview

WebSocket is a TCP-based protocol that establishes a persistent, bidirectional connection between client and server. Unlike HTTP, which opens a new connection for every request and closes it after the server responds, a WebSocket connection stays open until either party terminates it — allowing data to flow in both directions at any time.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1894/9U1xXa0egFyWElxm/images/docs/cdn/cdn-resource-options/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin-image3.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9U1xXa0egFyWElxm&q=85&s=000e5569d141957144e6677d790dc9fb" alt="Side-by-side comparison of HTTP polling and WebSocket persistent connection" width="2708" height="1434" data-path="images/docs/cdn/cdn-resource-options/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin-image3.png" />
</Frame>

## Default behavior

By default:

* WebSocket is enabled for CDN resources using DNS delegation.
* WebSocket is disabled for CNAME-based CDN resources.

Both setup types are described in the [CDN resource guide](/cdn/getting-started/create-a-cdn-resource/create-a-cdn-resource).

## Enable or disable WebSockets

1. Navigate to **CDN** in the [Gcore Customer Portal](https://portal.gcore.com) and click the custom domain of the target resource.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1894/9U1xXa0egFyWElxm/images/docs/cdn/cdn-resource-options/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin-image1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9U1xXa0egFyWElxm&q=85&s=274611b6ce98d7d03efe60768327016b" alt="CDN resources list with custom domain names highlighted" width="1400" height="900" data-path="images/docs/cdn/cdn-resource-options/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin-image1.png" />
</Frame>

2. In the **Content** section, find **WebSockets** and enable or disable the toggle.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gcore-doc-1894/9U1xXa0egFyWElxm/images/docs/cdn/cdn-resource-options/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin-image2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=9U1xXa0egFyWElxm&q=85&s=868f74097b5d722957d3407e2271ae0c" alt="WebSockets toggle inside the Content section of CDN resource settings" width="1400" height="900" data-path="images/docs/cdn/cdn-resource-options/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin/websockets-allow-permanent-connections-with-the-origin-image2.png" />
</Frame>

3. Click **Save changes**.

## Keep connections alive

WebSocket connections may be closed after a period of inactivity by the CDN or by intermediate network components. To prevent unexpected disconnections during idle periods, implement a client-side heartbeat — have the client send a ping frame at a regular interval and confirm receipt of the server's pong response.