Client Server Application

Client/server describes the relationship between two computer programs in which one program, the client, makes a
service request from another program, the server, which fulfills the request. Although the client/server idea can be
used by programs within a single computer, it is a more important idea in a network. In a network, the client/server
model provides a convenient way to interconnect programs that are distributed efficiently across different locations.
Computer transactions using the client/server model are very common. For example, to check your bank account
from your computer, a client program in your computer forwards your request to a server program at the bank. That
program may in turn forward the request to its own client program that sends a request to a database server at
another bank computer to retrieve your account balance. The balance is returned back to the bank data client, which
in turn serves it back to the client in your personal computer, which displays the information for you.
The client/server model has become one of the central ideas of network computing. Most business applications being
written today use the client/server model. So does the Internet's main program, TCP/IP. In marketing, the term has
been used to distinguish distributed computing by smaller dispersed computers from the "monolithic" centralized
computing of mainframecomputers. But this distinction has largely disappeared as mainframes and their applications
have also turned to the client/server model and become part of network computing.
In the usual client/server model, one server, sometimes called a daemon, is activated and awaits client requests.
Typically, multiple client programs share the services of a common server program. Both client programs and server
programs are often part of a larger program or application. Relative to the Internet, your Web browser is a client
program that requests services (the sending of Web pages or files) from a Web server (which technically is called a
Hypertext Transport Protocol or HTTP server) in another computer somewhere on the Internet. Similarly, your
computer with TCP/IP installed allows you to make client requests for files from File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers
in other computers on the Internet.
Other program relationship models included master/slave, with one program being in charge of all other programs,
and peer-to-peer, with either of two programs able to initiate a transaction.
A client is a computer program that depends upon another program to

function. Usually, client software receives data or instructions from a
remote program called a server. Some thin clients actually have critical
software components execute on the remote machine to conserve local
resources or software licenses. If the computer running the host software is
accessed over a network, then the machine hosting it is also referred to as
a server. If the server software is running in the background of the client
machine, then it is referred to as a daemon. Examples of common client
software used in everyday personal computing include web
browsers, email clients, instant messenger chat clients, and
bittorrent clients.
When someone sends you an email, but you are not connected to
the Internet, the email is stored on your ISP's mail server. You need a
program that will connect to that server and fetch the mail. That program
(for instance Thunderbird) is termed a client because it is connecting to the
remote server and fetching the data (your email). Similarly, when you click
a link on a webpage or enter a URL into a web browser, the browser (for
instance Firefox) connects to the server hosting the website and requests
the page. Thus, a web browser is also client software. Most
chat protocols have two (or more) clients connected simultaneously to a
central server. Although it often appears that messages are sent directly
from one chat program (for instance ICQ) to another, the messages are
actually deposited on a server and retrieved microseconds later.
Client server app-
Client-Server applications and n-tier architecture have always played a key role in operation of businesses. Ability to
input, process, store, and access data from anytime, anywhere and any device is powering eBusinesses of today.
Icreon specializes in development of high-end client-server applications and robust enterprise applications with user-
friendly interfaces. Depending on your business requirements, our consultants and developers can also help in
developing web-enabled applications and systems.
ver application?
Client-server describes an application architecture in which the client requests an action or service from the provider
of service, the server. Consider a Web browser and a Web server. When you address a URL in the browser window,
it (client) requests a page from a Web server. The server returns an html page to the client, which parses the page
(data) and displays it on your computer.
When developing a client-server application, like the Web browser and Web server, you need to consider how you
are going to handle developing your application in a team environment and how you are going to handle long-term
maintenance. Developing client-server applications parallels developing modular programs. Modular programming
separates large applications into smaller constituent pieces to ease development in teams and provide better
maintainability. In a client-server application, a module does not have to be part of the same program or even run on
the same computer. Each modular function can run on a different device.
How does a client perform?
Client programs request service from a server by sending it a message. Referring back to the Web example, a Web
browser is a client we use everyday to request Web pages. For example, when you clicked the link to read this
article, your browser sent a message to a Web server in Austin, TX. In response, your browser received the html
page you are now reading. A Web browser represents many client programs, which manage the graphical user
interface (GUI) or display portion of an application; determining the presentation of the service provided by an
application.
What is a server's function?
Server programs process client requests by performing the tasks requested by clients. For example, in a Web
browser the Web server returns the html page requested by the client. But client requests and server programs are
not always so simple. Consider a more complicated application in which you buy a product on a Web page. In this
case, the client informs the server what you are purchasing and the server updates a database with the purchase
request. Then, the server informs the client that the order has been placed.
Servers are generally passive as they wait for a client request. During these waiting periods servers can perform
other tasks or perform maintenance. Unlike the client, the server must continually run because clients can request
service at any time. Clients on the other hand only need to run when they require service. Many server applications
allow for multiple clients to request service. For example, while you are reading this page others interested in client-
server programming could also request and read the same Web page.

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Client/server describes the relationship between two computer programs in which one program, the client, makes a

A client is a computer program that depends upon another program to

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