XML Sockets

XML sockets are a topic related to the XML object only in that they both use XML-formatted data. However, the XML Socket object does not use load and send commands to get and share its data. Instead, it uses connect to connect to a server program.

A socket server program is unlike a CGI program in that it is always running, not just when it is called. This means that your server must be sitting there waiting for incoming connections all the time. The Flash movie then uses connect to make a connection. After a connection is established, XML data can be sent back and forth in real-time. The server can actually send data to the movie even if the movie hasn’t requested it. This is also known as push technology.