Data transport & protocols

PubNub is protocol agnostic. It runs on the global PubNub Data Stream Network. It chooses the best protocol for the user’s network, so your app stays connected.

As networks change—cell tower switching, double NAT, antivirus, and proxies—PubNub’s SDKs switch protocols so that connections stay stable, fast, and use very little power.

Over time, PubNub has used multiple protocols:

• WebSockets
• COMET
• BOSH
• SPDY
• Long polling

PubNub also evaluates transports such as HTTP/2. The goal is the same - work in any network, use minimal bandwidth, and save battery, especially on mobile.

Transport is a non-issue because PubNub picks the most efficient protocol for each SDK and runtime. Client and server SDKs update to new standards over time. They shield you from protocol details so you focus on features.

PubNub ensures performance and reliability. Think of it as a scalable, secure, and fast messaging backbone that removes transport complexity.