In what scenarios would using websockets be advantageous over traditional PHP methods for handling real-time data updates?

Websockets would be advantageous over traditional PHP methods for handling real-time data updates in scenarios where you need bidirectional communication between the server and client, such as live chat applications, real-time gaming, or collaborative editing tools. Websockets allow for instant data transfer without the need for constant polling or page reloading, resulting in faster and more efficient real-time updates.

// PHP code snippet using websockets to handle real-time data updates

// Create a new websocket server
$server = new \WebSocket\Server('0.0.0.0', 8000);

// Set up event handlers for incoming websocket connections
$server->on('connect', function($client) use ($server) {
    // Handle new client connection
});

$server->on('message', function($client, $message) use ($server) {
    // Handle incoming message from client
    // Broadcast message to all connected clients
    $server->send($message);
});

$server->on('disconnect', function($client) use ($server) {
    // Handle client disconnection
});

// Start the websocket server
$server->run();