Simple Real-Time Chat App

A beginner-friendly, real-time chat application built with Node.js, Socket.io, and HTML/CSS.
Users can join with a username, send and receive messages instantly, and see when others join or leave the chat.

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🚀 Features

• Real-time messaging: Instantly send and receive messages with all connected users.
• Usernames: Join the chat with your own username.
• User notifications: See when users join or leave the chat.
• Responsive UI: Clean and simple interface that works on desktop and mobile.

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🛠️ Technologies Used

• Node.js
• Express
• Socket.io
• HTML, CSS, JavaScript

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📦 Getting Started

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/harshitpandey/chat-app.git
cd chat-app

2. Install dependencies

npm install

3. Start the server

For one-time run:

node server.js

For auto-restart on changes (recommended for development):

npx nodemon server.js

4. Open the app

Go to http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

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🖥️ Usage

1. Enter a username and click Join.
2. Type your message and press Send.
3. See messages and notifications in real time as others join, chat, or leave.

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📁 Project Structure

chat-app/
├── public/
│   ├── index.html
│   ├── script.js
│   ├── style.css
│   └── styles.css
├── server.js
├── package.json
└── README.md

💡 Customization Ideas

• Add message timestamps
• Show a list of online users
• Support private rooms or direct messages
• Add emojis or file sharing

🤝 Contributing

Pull requests are welcome! For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

📄 License

MIT

🙋‍♂️ Questions?

Feel free to open an issue or reach out!