python socket send immediately

Question

The problem with sockets is that they buffer data and send it when buffer fills or in given interval. Any way to avoid it and send something through socket with high priority, without any delay? In my case milliseconds count.

Answer 1

TCP_NODELAY is the option you are looking for

Sample code:

s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.setsockopt(socket.IPPROTO_TCP, socket.TCP_NODELAY, 1)

For further info see

this SO QA

this article

this other SO QA

Note: on Linux systems option TCP_CORK is also available.

Experiment with both options in your application and see what happens. Please read this exhaustive and very informative article about pros and cons of both.