$(document).ready(function (){ var socket = io.connect(); socket.on('connect', function () { console.log("connected") socket.emit('recieved', {}); }); socket.on("states_update", function (json) { //json is an object containing all game updates console.log(json) var searchparams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search); var exists = false; for (game of json) { if (searchparams.get('timestamp') == game.timestamp) { $('.game').html(game.html); exists = true; } } if (!exists) { // inform the user the game has ended } }); });