In this post, we will compare the meaning of two key concepts "client" and "server". In fact, it may be difficult to distinguish between the two terms. Clients and servers in client-server architecture differ mainly in their functions. A client is hardware or software that requests resources or services from a server. A server is any hardware or software that provides resources or services to users.
Clients and servers communicate with each other over a network to exchange data and perform various tasks. The client usually initiates the communication, while the server waits for and responds to requests. This design allows for more secure and centralized management of data while allocating resources more efficiently.
What is a client and what is a server
A client is any computer hardware or software device that requests access to a service provided by a server. Clients are often referred to as requesting programs or users in a client-server architecture. Examples of client end-user devices are smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers.
A server is software or hardware (computer programs) used for computing that provides functionality to other programs or devices (called "clients") used in other applications. This architecture is known as the client-server model. Many of the functions that a server can provide are called "services," such as performing computations for clients or distributing data or resources among multiple clients. Examples include database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, game servers, and many more.
What is the difference between a client and a server
The main difference between a client and a server is that a client initiates communication with a server to make a request for information, while a server answers the request from the client. Servers are typically located in a data center, while clients are typically located on consumer computers.
Client and Server Communication
The client and server are the first two obvious participants in client-server communication. The general communication process goes like this:
Request: Requests are sent by the client to the server to provide information. These requests are, for example, a user wanting to log in with their credentials or request data (such as a file) from the server.
Response: The server's response to the client's request is sent to the client in the form of a message. This could be the result of authentication, for example.
Service: A service is a specific task that a server provides to a client, such as image downloading.
Request-response messaging, such as the one used by clients and servers when communicating, is controlled by communication protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The language and conversation patterns used are specified by the protocol. For example, TCP maintains the client and server connection throughout the message exchange. In addition, TCP determines how to distribute application data, send and receive packets, and handle any lost packets. When a server receives a large number of requests at the same time, they are prioritized in a scheduling system. Client access control techniques can be used to control who has access to the server.
In a client-server architecture, communication between clients and servers occurs by requesting data or resources that the client cannot provide. The client and server can be spread out but still connected via a network. They can even be located on the same computer and communicate with each other between processes.
Distributed application architecture divides work between servers and clients. Client-side refers to tasks that can be handled by clients, while server-side refers to tasks that must be completed by a server. Resources such as files, data, Internet connections, external storage, or processing power are usually provided by servers. Servers assign one or more programs the responsibility of providing these services to requesting clients.