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title: Work with WebSocket messages
updated: 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
max-toc-depth: 2
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*WebSocket messages* are data packets sent over a WebSocket connection. WebSocket messages include information about the type and length of the message, and whether it's the final message or part of a larger set of messages. You can send, save, and view WebSocket messages in Postman. You can also add names and arguments to Socket.IO events.
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## Send WebSocket messages
After making a WebSocket connection, you can use the editor pane to compose and send messages.
In the bottom left corner of the editor, you can select the format of your message: **Text**, **JSON**, **XML**, **HTML**, or **Binary**. If you click **Binary**, you can then select **Base64** or **Hexadecimal**. The editor has syntax highlighting according to the selected format. You can also click 
**Beautify** to beautify JSON, XML, or HTML messages.
After you finish composing your message, click **Send**. The sent message remains in the window, in case you want to change it and resend, or save it.
## Save and load WebSocket messages
You can save composed messages, then load and resend them later.
To save a message, do the following:
1. Compose a message (see [Send WebSocket messages](#send-websocket-messages)).
2. Click **Save** to save the message with the request.
3. (Optional) Click **Saved messages**, then select 
**Add message** to create a new blank message and add it to the list of saved messages.
To load a saved message, do the following:
1. Click **Saved messages** to open the **Saved messages** pane.
2. Select a saved message. It appears in the editor pane.
You can then [send](#send-websocket-messages) the message or edit it and click **Save** to save the changes.
## View WebSocket messages
The **Response** pane displays a list of messages for the WebSocket connection, including incoming, outgoing, and network messages.
At the top of the **Response** pane is a connection details badge. It shows if the connection is connecting, connected, disconnecting, or disconnected. Hover over the badge to show connection details. Click the arrow next to the badge to show or hide the **Response** pane.
The **Response** pane has the following controls:
* **Search terms in messages** - Enter a search term to display messages containing the term. Click 
**Clear** to clear the search box.
* **View all messages** - Click **All Messages** to view all messages, sent messages, or received messages.
* **Clear Messages** - Click to clear all messages.
Each message contains the following information:
* A message timestamp in your local time.
* The contents of the message.
You can perform the following actions for each message:
* Hover over a message to display the following:
* To display the time difference between two messages, click their checkboxes. Click **Deselect** or clear the checkboxes to clear your selections.
* Click 
**Copy message** to copy the message to your clipboard.
* Click 
**Save message** to [save](#save-and-load-websocket-messages) the message.
* Hover over 
**Information** to display a message's size, time, and MIME type.
* Click a message to expand or collapse it.
In an expanded message:
* Click **Text**, **HTML**, **JSON**, or **XML** to change the formatting of the message.
* Click 
**Wrap Line** to add or remove line wraps.
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* Click **Show Hexdump** or **Show Message** to show the message in hex or text.
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* Click 
**Search** to search the message.
* Hover over a line number and click 
**Up** or 
**Down** to expand or collapse message blocks.
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## Add Socket.IO event names and arguments
To listen to specific events, you can add names and arguments to events you send with a Socket.IO connection.
For a Socket.IO connection, you can enter an event name to publish next to **Send**. If you click **Send** without entering a name, the default name `message` is used.
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If you click the **Ack** option, the server will acknowledge that it has received the message.
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You can also add arguments to a Socket.IO connection. Click **Arg** in the editor pane. A sidebar opens with a new argument that you can use to add the argument's message. Hover over an existing argument and click 
to delete it. The workflow to inspect each argument's message is similar.
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