Socket Debugging
Hooklistener's socket debugging lets you inspect real-time connections including WebSocket, Socket.IO, and MQTT. Connect to any server and monitor frames, messages, and connection lifecycle events.
How it works
- Create a socket debug session from the dashboard
- Choose the protocol — WebSocket, Socket.IO, or MQTT
- Enter the server URL and connection parameters
- Connect and inspect — view messages, frames, and events in real time
Supported protocols
| Protocol | Use case |
|---|---|
| WebSocket | General-purpose real-time communication |
| Socket.IO | Socket.IO server debugging (automatic reconnection, rooms, namespaces) |
| MQTT | IoT and message broker debugging |
Key features
Real-time message inspection
View every message sent and received on the connection, with timestamps and direction indicators.
Connection lifecycle
Monitor connection events:
- Connecting — connection attempt in progress
- Connected — connection established
- Disconnected — connection closed (with close code and reason)
- Error — connection error details
Send test messages
Send messages directly from the dashboard to test your server's behavior.
Auto-responses
Enable automatic responses to incoming messages with a configurable payload (up to 10KB). Useful for testing client behavior without a backend.
Network simulation
Simulate poor network conditions to test resilience:
- Latency — add artificial delay (0-30,000ms)
- Jitter — random latency variation (0-10,000ms)
- Packet drop — simulate dropped messages (0-100%)
Message filtering
Filter messages by content, direction (sent/received), or message type.
Accessing socket debugging
Navigate to the Realtime section in the dashboard to create and manage socket debug sessions.