javascript - socket.io best way to track if a user is online -

i need update client side stuff if user has socket connection.

currently broadcasting when user connects "logged in"

---

client side (could server side , same result)

// announce user online socket.on('connect', function() {   socket.emit('im online'); }); 

server side

io.sockets.on('connection', function (socket) {      socket.on("im online", function (data) {         // announce online status of new user         socket.broadcast.emit('connected user',  {"name": socket.handshake.headers.user.username});     });  }); 

the problem is, load page let know "online" because loading of page triggers event, if idol , user reloads his/her page nothing triggered on end, there no indication online.

so thinking server side can capture array of users made connection , send array down new clients connecting , use compare users friend list see if username matches (usernames 100% unique in each case btw)

then when user disconnects can remove array , let client know.

this solution, seems highly ineffective , hoping there better solution.

you broadcast disconnect events well:

socket.on("disconnect", function (data) {     // announce offline status of new user     socket.broadcast.emit('disconnected user',  {"name": socket.handshake.headers.user.username}); }); 

th disconnect event automatically generated on server side when client disconnects.

on other hand have store on server side connected users, because otherwise newly connected users wouldn't notified connected others.