What is a real-time application?
A real-time application updates what is on screen without the user reloading the page. As soon as an event happens on the server, the information is pushed to every relevant screen, usually in under a second.
In one sentence
A real-time application shows information as it happens, with no manual refresh.
We have a full page on this subject: how it works, its limits, project process and timelines.
Real-time web application