What Does Client Mean?
A client is the receiving end of a service or the requestor of a service in a client/server model type of system. The client is most often located on another system or computer, which can be accessed via a network. This term was first used for devices that could not run their own programs, and were connected to remote computers that could via a network. These were called dumb terminals and they were served by time-sharing mainframe computers.
Techopedia Explains Client
- Thin Client: A client application with minimum functions that uses the resources provided by a host computer and its job is usually just to display results processed by a server. It simply relies on a server to do most or all of its processing.Thick/Fat Client: This is the opposite of the thin client. It can do most of its processing and does not necessarily rely on a central server, but may need to connect to one for some information, uploading, or to update data or the program itself. Anti-virus software belong to this category because they do not really need to connect to a server to do their job, although they must connect periodically to download new virus definitions and upload data.Hybrid: Exhibits characteristics from the two above types. It can do most processes on its own but may rely on a server for critical data or for storage.
