Client (computing)

A client is a piece of computer hardware or software that accesses a service made available by a server.

In computing, a server is a computer program or a device that provides functionality for other programs or devices, called "clients".

For example, web browsers are clients that connect to web servers and retrieve web pages for display.

The primary function of a web server is to store, process and deliver web pages to clients.

For example, web browsers are clients that connect to web servers and retrieve web pages for display.

In contrast, a dynamic web page is generated by a web application, driven by server-side software, running on the client-side (on the web browser), or both.

A client is part of a client–server model, which is still used today.

Client–server model is a distributed application structure that partitions tasks or workloads between the providers of a resource or service, called servers, and service requesters, called clients.

Email clients retrieve email from mail servers.

Mail can be stored on the client, on the server side, or in both places.

Combined with Internet sockets, programs may connect to a service operating on a possibly remote system through the Internet protocol suite.

These sockets are waiting for initiatives from client programs.

Combined with Internet sockets, programs may connect to a service operating on a possibly remote system through the Internet protocol suite.

Clients connecting to a service usually use ephemeral ports, i.e., port numbers assigned only for the duration of the transaction at random or from a specific range configured in the application.

For example, web browsers are clients that connect to web servers and retrieve web pages for display.

Email clients retrieve email from mail servers.

Email clients retrieve email from mail servers.

Online chat uses a variety of clients, which vary depending on the chat protocol being used.

Multiplayer video games or online video games may run as a client on each computer.

Multiplayer video games or online video games may run as a client on each computer.

Clients and servers may be computer programs run on the same machine and connect via inter-process communication techniques.

The term was first applied to devices that were not capable of running their own stand-alone programs, but could interact with remote computers via a network.

The term was first applied to devices that were not capable of running their own stand-alone programs, but could interact with remote computers via a network.

These computer terminals were clients of the time-sharing mainframe computer.

These computer terminals were clients of the time-sharing mainframe computer.

These computer terminals were clients of the time-sharing mainframe computer.

In one classification, client computers and devices are either thick clients, thin clients, or hybrid clients.

In one classification, client computers and devices are either thick clients, thin clients, or hybrid clients.

In one classification, client computers and devices are either thick clients, thin clients, or hybrid clients.

The personal computer is a common example of a fat client, because of its relatively large set of features and capabilities and its light reliance upon a server.

For example, a computer running an Art program (such as Krita or Sketchup) that ultimately shares the result of its work on a network is a thick client.