# Create a Socket.IO request

Socket.IO is a library that abstracts WebSockets and provides extra features like event-based messaging. You can create Socket.IO requests from the sidebar in Postman.

1. Click **New > Socket.IO** to open a Socket.IO request in a new tab. (In the Postman desktop app, you can also press **⌘+N** or **Ctrl+N**.)
2. Enter a [WebSocket](/docs/sending-requests/websocket/websocket-overview/) server URL. A WebSocket URL begins with `ws://` or `wss://`.
3. Click **Connect**.

To disconnect your Socket.IO request's connection, click **Disconnect**.

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  If you're using the Postman web app, consider using the Postman Desktop Agent for the best experience. See [About the Postman Agent](/docs/getting-started/basics/about-postman-agent/) for more information.
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  Socket.IO typically uses WebSockets as its transport layer, but sometimes uses HTTP *long polling* as a fallback when WebSockets can't be used. Postman doesn't support long-polling mode in Socket.IO.
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