Client-Server Model Last Updated : 04 Aug, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report The Client-Server Model is a distributed architecture where clients request services and servers provide them. Clients send requests to servers, which process them and return the results. Clients don’t share resources among themselves but depend on the server. Common examples include email systems and the World Wide Web, where clients (like browsers or email apps) interact with servers to access content or send data.How Does the Client-Server Model Work?ClientWhen we talk about a "Client," it refers to a device that requests and receives services from a server. The client is the entity that initiates communication, asking for data or resources from the server. For example, web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari are common client applications that request data from a server to render web pages.ServerA Server, on the other hand, is a remote computer or system that provides data, resources or services to clients. It listens to incoming client requests, processes them and sends the required information back. A server can handle multiple client requests simultaneously.Example: Web servers host websites, while database servers store and provide access to data. Clients send requests and servers respond as long as the requested data or service is availableClient Server ModelHow the Browser Interacts With the Servers?The process of interacting with servers through a browser involves several steps. Here's a breakdown of the steps taken when you enter a URL in a browser and receive the website data:1. User Enters the URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The user types a website address (e.g., www.example.com) into the browser's address bar.2. DNS (Domain Name System) Lookup: The browser sends a request to the DNS server to resolve the human-readable URL into an IP address (since computers use IP addresses to identify and connect to each other).3. DNS Server Resolves the Address: The DNS server looks up the domain name and returns the IP address of the web server hosting the requested website.4. Browser Sends HTTP/HTTPS Request: The browser sends an HTTP/HTTPS request to the IP address of the web server to fetch the website’s data. HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS (the secure version) is the protocol used for communication between the browser (client) and the web server (server).5. Server Sends Website Files: The server processes the request and sends the necessary website files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, etc.) back to the browser.6. Rendering the Website: The browser renders the files and displays the website to the user. This rendering process involves several components working together:DOM (Document Object Model) Interpreter: Processes the HTML structure and build tree-like representation of the page.CSS Interpreter: Applies styles to the HTML elements.JS Engine: Executes JavaScript code for interactivity. Most modern JavaScript engines use Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation to optimize performance.Client Server Request and ResponseReal-World Examples of the Client-Server Model1. Email SystemsClient: Email apps (e.g., Outlook, Gmail)Server: Email providers (e.g., Gmail Server, Yahoo Mail Server)How It Works: Clients fetch and send emails via the server.2. The World Wide WebClient: Web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox)Server: Web servers (e.g., Apache, Nginx)How It Works: Browsers request web pages; servers respond with content.3. Cloud Storage ServicesClient: User devices (e.g., PC, smartphone)Server: Cloud platforms (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox)How It Works: Clients upload/download files; servers store and serve them remotely.Advantages of the Client-Server ModelThe Client-Server model offers several advantages that make it popular in networked and distributed systems:Centralized Data Management: All data is stored in a centralized server, which makes it easier to manage, update and back up.Cost Efficiency: Since the server handles most of the processing, clients require fewer resources and can be simpler devices, reducing costs.Scalability: Both clients and servers can be scaled separately. Servers can be upgraded to handle more clients and new clients can be added without significant changes to the server infrastructure.Data Recovery: Centralized data storage on the server allows for better data recovery and easier backup strategies.Security: Security measures such as firewalls, encryption and authentication can be centralized on the server, ensuring that sensitive data is protected.Disadvantages of Client-Server ModelClient Vulnerability to Infected Downloads: If the server hosts malicious files (e.g., viruses or Trojans), clients may unknowingly download and execute them, compromising their systems.Servers Are Targets: Servers are prone to Denial of Service (DOS) attacks, where the server is overwhelmed with traffic and made unavailable to legitimate clients.Data Spoofing and Modification: Data packets may be spoofed or modified during transmission if the proper security measures (e.g., encryption) are not implemented.Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks: Attackers can intercept communication between client and server to steal login credentials or sensitive data, especially over unsecured networks. 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