How to view WS/WSS Websocket request content using Firebug or other?

In web development, WebSockets provide a mechanism for establishing full-duplex, bidirectional communication over a single connection. Inspecting the content of WebSocket requests is crucial for debugging and understanding data exchange in web applications. Although Firebug was once a popular tool, it is no longer supported in Firefox 57 and newer versions. Therefore, I will demonstrate how to use the built-in Developer Tools in modern browsers, such as Google Chrome and Firefox, to view WebSocket requests.

Using Chrome Browser to View WebSocket Requests

1. Open Developer Tools:

   • Access the Developer Tools by clicking the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the browser, then selecting 'More Tools' > 'Developer Tools', or by using the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac).

2. Navigate to the 'Network' Tab:

   • In the Developer Tools panel, locate and click the 'Network' tab.

3. Set Filters to Display Only WebSocket Connections:

   • In the Network panel, set the filter to show only WebSocket requests by entering 'WS' in the filter box or selecting the 'WS' label.

4. Refresh the Page to Capture WebSocket Requests:

   • If the WebSocket connection is established during page load, refresh the page to allow the Developer Tools to capture the connection setup and subsequent data exchange.

5. Select a Specific WebSocket Request to View Details:

   • In the Network list, click on the specific WebSocket request and switch to the 'Messages' tab.

6. View Sent and Received WebSocket Messages:

   • In the 'Messages' tab, you can view the actual data transmitted over the WebSocket connection, including all messages sent by the server and client.

Using Firefox Browser to View WebSocket Requests

1. Open Developer Tools:

   • Access the Developer Tools similarly to Chrome by clicking the menu or using the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac).

2. Access the 'Network' Tab:

   • In the Developer Tools panel, locate and click the 'Network' tab.

3. Filter WebSocket Connections:

   • Select 'WS' in the request type filter to display only WebSocket requests.

4. Refresh the Page and Select WebSocket Requests:

   • Similar to Chrome, refresh the page and select the desired WebSocket connection.

5. View WebSocket Data Packets:

   • In the request details, find the 'Messages' tab to view the data transmitted over the WebSocket connection.

This process enables you to inspect WebSocket requests in modern browsers, which is highly valuable for debugging real-time data exchange and API calls. I hope this helps you better understand and utilize WebSocket technology.