Server Sent Events in Python with Flask

Johan Louwers
6 min readSep 23, 2024
Stream … ing

Originally, communication between clients and servers for web-based applications was primarily request-driven. However, this has evolved. Webhooks and WebSockets are now common, but Server-Sent Events (SSE) are sometimes overlooked. SSE is a method where the server initiates data sending to the client, rather than the client having to request it explicitly.

Server-Sent Events (SSE) is an architecture pattern where the server pushes real-time updates to the client over a single, long-lived HTTP connection. Unlike traditional request-response models where the client has to actively request updates, SSE allows the server to continuously send data to the client as soon as it becomes available.

SSE / Server Sent Events — High Level Architecture view

This is achieved through a persistent connection that keeps the client updated with the latest information without the need for repeated requests. SSE is particularly useful for applications that require live updates, such as notifications or live feeds, ensuring that the client receives information in real time with minimal overhead.

Server Sent Events in Python

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Johan Louwers

Johan Louwers is a technology enthousiasts with a long background in supporting enterprises and startups alike as CTO, Chief Enterprise Architect and developer.