WebRTC

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a free and open-source collection of APIs that allow peer-to-peer connections between two or more browser clients.

Originally developed in 2011 and currently maintained by Google, WebRTC has been published as a specification by the W3C and is supported by all major browsers.

WebRTC vs WebSockets

WebRTC is commonly used for video chatting apps because it allows two or more computers to connect and send audiovisual data without needing a server.

Conversely, WebSockets allow for a two-way connection between a server and client using the ws:// protocol.