AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM) extended its functionality to define complete WebSocket APIs in templates, automating the creation and permission configuration for WebSocket routes like $connect, $disconnect, and $default. This reduced the need for manual CloudFormation scripting and minimized setup errors such as incorrect IAM permissions.
The capability supports full API Gateway WebSocket features, including custom domains, authorization options, and stage settings, allowing developers to build real-time applications—such as chat or IoT streams—more quickly and with improved maintainability. Globals support allows sharing configuration across multiple APIs for consistency.
Source & further reading
AWS SAM now supports WebSocket APIs for Amazon API Gateway ↗Source published 2026-05-05. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.