# WebSocket stream

Unlike HTTP, with WebSockets, you don't need to continuously make requests when you want specific information. WebSockets maintain a network connection for you (if done right) and listen for changes . You may view the official documentation [here](https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/maintain-wss). 

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="WebSocket" %}

```
wscat -c wss://api.chainup.net/ws/polkadot/mainnet/<YOUR_API_KEY>
<  {"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"chain_getBlock","params":[],"id":32}
<  {"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":{"block":{"header":{"parentHash":"0x8a55738db2a55ee21eadf27756348c6e3883c93fc4c55424511da8c5ea8d3a13","number":"0xb04b2a", ... }
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Javascript" %}

```
// Required imports
const { ApiPromise, WsProvider } = require('@polkadot/api');

async function main () {
  // Initialise the provider to connect to the local node
  const provider = new WsProvider('wss://api.chainup.net/ws/polkadot/mainnet/<YOUR_API_KEY>');

  // Create the API and wait until ready
  const api = await ApiPromise.create({ provider });

  // Retrieve the chain & node information information via rpc calls
  const [chain, nodeName, nodeVersion] = await Promise.all([
    api.rpc.system.chain(),
    api.rpc.system.name(),
    api.rpc.system.version()
  ]);

  console.log(`You are connected to chain ${chain} using ${nodeName} v${nodeVersion}`);
}

main().catch(console.error).finally(() => process.exit());
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Python" %}

```
import asyncio
from jsonrpc_websocket import Server

async def routine():
    server = Server('wss://api.chainup.net/ws/polkadot/mainnet/<YOUR_API_KEY>')
    try:
        await server.ws_connect()

        chain = await server.api.rpc.system.chain()
        nodeName = await api.rpc.system.name()
        nodeVersion = await api.rpc.system.version()
        
        print(f'You are connected to chain {chain} using {nodeName} v{nodeVersion}')
    finally:
        await server.close()

asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(routine())
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.chainupcloud.com/blockchain-api/polkadot/websocket-stream.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.