What is a Client-Server?

When it comes to the world of online commands, it is hard to figure out what does what. The client-server models are among the most important relationships and one that virtually everyone who uses a computer requires though these are forces that are unseen so they are rarely ever appreciated. However, understanding how the client-server model works can be key to being able to understand a lot of things and especially when it comes to networking since that is where this model is mostly applied in.

What is the Client-server model?

In simple terms, a client-server model is a structure of communication network processes where there are service requesters (clients) and service providers (servers). The applications can vary depending on the scenario that you’re working with but the bottom line is that the two feature prominently for the communication between two servers to work.

Let us take your computer’s browser and the internet for instance. If you were to load say your email, you will input the address on your browser (which in this case will be the client) which will then ask another server to pop up your email (the other program becomes the server). Once the communication has been completed, it is then terminated.

What is a client and what is a server?

Being able to understand the role being played by who and what, there is a lot that you can be able to understand the essence of this relationship.

  • A server is the one that stores all the data and manages most of the processes. Some of the devices that fall into the category of a server include the web, databases, applications, chats and also emails.
  • On the other hand, we have the client which is the one that requests for the information stored by the server. Some good examples of clients include web browsers, email software as well as chat applications.

Benefits of a Client-server model.

Considering that it is a preferred model when it comes to networking, it is worth having a look at why exactly it is more considered.

  • First and foremost, this model allows for there to be a centralized location where all your files can be stored and all the computers can be able to access them even at the same time. This means that you’re able to free your other devices.
  • This model also allows you to be able to access your files on any of your devices at anytime from anywhere. All you have to do is have an FTP client from where you can log in to your account and you will be able to access all your files.

Disadvantages

  • Even though the fact that being able to have all your files in one place it may also be the greatest disadvantage because if the server goes down, then you will have lost everything at once. Needless to mention the losses that can come as a result of this.
  • For the client-server model to work, you have to have a good number of devices and equipment meaning that when setting this up, if you don’t have any equipment, that can be very expensive.