PubNub enables real-time Publish/Subscribe for PHP, supporting terminals and web servers like Apache, Nginx, and Lighttpd. With the PubNub PHP Push API, JavaScript browsers can push messages to PHP servers or CLI programs, ensuring instant data exchange.
This walk-through can work on your laptop in a terminal/console. If you don't have a terminal/console, then read the JavaScript Push API.
Our Ruby, JavaScript and C# Push APIs are available on GitHub. Download the PubNub API on GitHub.
PHP developers can push messages to JavaScript Browsers. Read PHP Push API Reference Tutorial for condensed reference API function calls.
Push API Architecture
A production-ready push system consists of a backend push server, a messaging queue, and delivery services. The push server processes events and dispatches them to respective push services. For example, a queue-based system using Redis or RabbitMQ ensures asynchronous message processing:
PHP Push API Overview: How it Works
PHP push APIs interact with client applications by maintaining persistent connections or invoking external push services. PHP scripts initiate requests via RESTful APIs, WebSockets, or third-party SDKs like PubNub:
Setting Up a PHP Push Notification Service
A push service in PHP can be implemented using FCM for mobile notifications or WebSockets for real-time web push. A simple WebSocket-based implementation using Ratchet:
Integrating Push APIs with Mobile and Web Applications
Mobile applications require integration with FCM/APNS, while web clients use Service Workers for push notifications. The backend sends payloads to FCM:
Authentication and Authorization for Secure Push Notifications
Ensuring secure push communication requires token-based authentication, API key validation, and encryption. OAuth2 or JWT can be used for secure push notification delivery:
Handling Push Notification Delivery Status
To track delivery, services like FCM and PubNub provide message status APIs. PHP can process responses to handle failures and retries:
Message Formats and Payloads in PHP Push APIs
Push messages use structured payloads that vary by service. A JSON payload for FCM:
Optimizing Push Notifications for Scalability and Performance
Scaling push systems requires load balancing, queueing, and batched deliveries. Using Redis Streams for push event buffering:
Push Notification Best Practices for Production Environments
Use efficient retry mechanisms, handle expired tokens, and implement rate limiting. Log all push events for debugging and analytics.
Managing Push API Failures and Retrying Strategies
Implement exponential backoff for retries and handle transient failures. Using a retry queue in Laravel:
This ensures notifications are retried without overloading push services.
