Django + WebSockets: Real-Time Features with Django Channels

By NSLTD | Published on June 25, 2025

Backend Development

Go Real-Time: Bringing Django to Life with WebSockets

HTTP is great for traditional apps, but what if your app needs to push updates instantly—like chat messages, notifications, or live dashboards? That’s where Django Channels and WebSockets come in.

What are WebSockets?

Unlike HTTP, which is request-response, WebSockets create a persistent, bidirectional connection between client and server. Perfect for real-time apps.

Setting Up Django Channels

pip install channels
# In settings.py
ASGI_APPLICATION = 'myproject.asgi.application'

Creating an ASGI Entry Point

# asgi.py
import os
from channels.routing import ProtocolTypeRouter, URLRouter
from django.core.asgi import get_asgi_application
from channels.auth import AuthMiddlewareStack
import myapp.routing

os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'myproject.settings')

application = ProtocolTypeRouter({
    "http": get_asgi_application(),
    "websocket": AuthMiddlewareStack(
        URLRouter(
            myapp.routing.websocket_urlpatterns
        )
    ),
})

Writing Your First Consumer

# consumers.py
from channels.generic.websocket import AsyncWebsocketConsumer
import json

class ChatConsumer(AsyncWebsocketConsumer):
    async def connect(self):
        await self.accept()
        await self.send(text_data=json.dumps({"message": "Hello WebSocket!"}))

Use Cases

• Live chat systems and forums
• Real-time notifications
• Collaborative editing
• Game mechanics and dashboards

Production Notes

• Use Redis as the channel layer
• Deploy with Daphne or Uvicorn (not just Gunicorn)
• Use groups to broadcast messages

With Django Channels, your backend doesn’t just respond—it speaks in real-time. It's a new layer of interactivity that transforms how users experience your app.

“Real-time isn't luxury anymore—it's expectation.”