Looking at integrating a Spring Boot REST API with an Angular Frontend, I am interested in monitoring file upload/download progress.
I recently came across an informative article that dives into the implementation details of this feature. The approach seems to center around configuring the client side, where setting the reportProgress property in HttpOptions for POST requests allows for tracking the UploadProgress event containing data on bytes loaded and total.
However, I have some questions:
- Does this method solely apply to file uploads, or is there a similar technique for monitoring file downloads as well?
- What principle governs this methodology?
Elaborating on the second point:
To track upload/download progress accurately, the server needs to convey the amount of data transmitted/received to the client. Given my backend operates as a REST API, it appears necessary to send periodic inquiries like "How much data have you received" or "How much data have you sent." Is my interpretation correct regarding REST API behavior? If so, does the described method involve Spring Boot consistently querying my server for progress updates?
Are there alternative approaches available?
One idea is utilizing websockets: These facilitate real-time communication between client and server, enabling server-initiated notifications on data reception without the need for continuous client requests. Could this potentially offer a more efficient solution?