What Is a Client-Server Application?
by Nataliia Vasylyna | December 7, 2016 12:14 pm
First of all, it is necessary to distinguish and clarify the concept of ‘client’ and ‘server’. The client is a PC or a workstation with the help of which users are able to launch different applications and programs.
Server is rather strong computer with wide capabilities that is designed to manage diverse processes. For example, file servers manage disk drives, print servers – printers, and network servers – accordingly network traffic.
A client-server application includes a client – a special program that uses the services offered by a server. A user calls a certain function in the server application, in other words, he makes a request for some server services.
What Are the Features of Client-Server Application?
- The services can be requested by a client program from multiple server programs.
- Services are provided by particular subprograms.
- It is not necessary for a client program to be aware of subprograms that ensure the service offering.
- The services can be requested by multiple client programs from a single server.
The proper work of such applications is checked by client-server testing. Besides that, the testers perform web-based testing[1], manual support check, server side testing[2], intersystem testing, compatibility testing[3], etc.
Usually, the client and server programs are fulfilled not on the same machines and sometimes they may be executed on various platforms – in a distributed computing environment. The interaction between the client and server is provided by middleware, a special layer for communication.
It is well-known that if the apps are launched on various machines, then these machines should be somehow connected. In most cases, it can be a network (Internet, WAN, LAN). In client-server applications, this interaction is possible because of specific client-server architecture.
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Related Posts:
- web-based testing: https://qatestlab.com/expertise/types-of-applications/web-application-testing/
- server side testing: https://qatestlab.com/services/we-are-professionals-in/server-service-testing/
- compatibility testing: https://qatestlab.com/services/let-s-compare/compatibility-testing/
- Client Side vs Server Side: https://blog.qatestlab.com/2016/12/07/client-server-side/
- Navigating the Web: The Power of Cross-Browser Testing: https://blog.qatestlab.com/2024/02/07/cross-browser-testing-2/
- Web and Desktop Testing: Key Differences Between Them: https://blog.qatestlab.com/2023/11/02/web-and-desktop-testing-key-differences-between/
Source URL: https://blog.qatestlab.com/2016/12/07/client-server-application/