BCA 107 Web Technogies

UNIT 1: World Wide Web

World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is abbreviated as WWW and is commonly known as the web. The WWW was
initiated by CERN (European library for Nuclear Research) in 1989.

WWW can be defined as the collection of different websites around the world, containing different
information shared via local servers (or computers).

A broader definition comes from the organization that Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee helped found,
the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

The World Wide Web is the universe of network-accessible information, an embodiment of human
knowledge.

In simple terms, The World Wide Web is a way of exchanging information between computers on
the Internet, tying them together into a vast collection of interactive multimedia resources.

Internet and Web is not the same thing: Web uses internet to pass over the information.

History:
It is a project created, by Timothy Berner Lee in 1989, for researchers to work together effectively at
CERN. is an organization, named the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which was developed for
further development of the web. This organization is directed by Tim Berner’s Lee, aka the father of
the web.

System Architecture:
From the user’s point of view, the web consists of a vast, worldwide connection of documents or
web pages. Each page may contain links to other pages anywhere in the world. The pages can be
retrieved and viewed by using browsers of which internet explorer, Netscape Navigator, Google
Chrome, etc are the popular ones. The browser fetches the page requested interprets the text and
formatting commands on it, and displays the page, properly formatted, on the screen.

The basic model of how the web works are shown in the figure below. Here the browser is displaying
a web page on the client machine. When the user clicks on a line of text that is linked to a page on
the abd.com server, the browser follows the hyperlink by sending a message to the abd.com server
asking it for the page.

Here the browser displays a web page on the client machine when the user clicks on a line of text
that is linked to a page on abd.com, the browser follows the hyperlink by sending a message to the
abd.com server asking for the page.

Features of WWW:
• HyperText Information System
• Cross-Platform
• Distributed
• Open Standards and Open Source
• Uses Web Browsers to provide a single interface for many services
• Dynamic, Interactive and Evolving.
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• “Web 2.0”

Components of the Web:

There are 3 components of the web:

Uniform Resource Locator (URL): serves as a system for resources on the web.

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP): specifies communication of browser and server.

Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML): defines the structure, organisation and content of a
webpage.

Evolution
World Wide Web was created by Timothy Berners Lee in 1989 at CERN in Geneva. World Wide Web
came into existence as a proposal by him, to allow researchers to work together effectively and
efficiently at CERN. Eventually it became World Wide Web.

The following diagram briefly defines evolution of World Wide Web:

WWW Operation
WWW works on client- server approach. Following steps explains how the web works:
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User enters the URL (say, http://www.tutorialspoint.com) of the web page in the address bar of web
browser.

Then browser requests the Domain Name Server for the IP address corresponding to
www.tutorialspoint.com.

After receiving IP address, browser sends the request for web page to the web server using HTTP
protocol which specifies the way the browser and web server communicates.

Then web server receives request using HTTP protocol and checks its search for the requested web
page. If found it returns it back to the web browser and close the HTTP connection.

Now the web browser receives the web page, It interprets it and display the contents of web page in
web browser’s window.

Webpage
A webpage is a document written in HTML and can be viewed on any web browser. It is contained
within the web server, which can be accessed by entering the URL for that web page, and once it is
loaded, it appears on the user's web browser. Each webpage is linked with a unique URL; hence two
pages cannot have the same URL.

A webpage may contain text, links for other pages, graphics, videos, etc. Moreover, it is mainly used
to provide information to the user in text, images, etc.

A webpage is a part of a website; it means a website contains different web pages. Such
as javaTpoint.com is a website, and the page currently you are accessing is the webpage. It can be
understood as an example of a book. So, a Website is like a complete book, and a webpage is like a
page of that book.

The WWW or Internet contains millions of web pages, and daily, a lot is being added. Tim Berners-
Lee developed the first webpage.

Characteristics of a Web Page

Following are some characteristics of a Web page:

A simple webpage can be created very quickly.

It takes very little time to create a webpage compared to a Website.

A web page and a website should be compatible with any device, such as Mobile, Desktop, Laptop,
etc.
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The search engine provides a web page through a link, and when a user clicks on that link, it is
redirected to the webpage of a website.

A webpage can have any type of information including videos, and audios.

It can be made up of only HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), or CSS, or JavaScript for dynamic and
attractive behavior.

Components of a Webpage :
• Components of a webpage, Content wise
• Components of a webpage, Structure Wise

Content Wise :
Content wise the components of a webpage are : Hypertext and Hyperlinks

Hypertext :
It refers to a digital text, which is more than just text as it can include information in various media
formats such as :

• text
• color
• graphic
• animation
• video
• sound
• hyperlinks

Hyperlinks :
It refers to a link from a hypertext file to another such file. A hyperlink can be in the form of a
graphic or text, upon clicking where the linked document opens up.

Structure Wise :
Structure wise the components of a web page are :

Page Title –
This is a single line text which is displayed on the title bar of the browser displaying web page.

Header –
This is generally a one or two line text (sometimes a graphics/image) defining the purpose of the
web page. It is displayed at the top of the web page, below the address bar of the browser.

Body of the Web page –

This is the section below the header of the web page and it contains the actual content of the web
page.

Navigational Links –
These are the hyperlinks placed on the web page using which you can move the linked web
pages/documents.

Footer –
This is the bottom section of the web page. This is the section where usually the copyright notice,
website contact information etc. is put.
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Types of a Web page

There are mainly two types of a Web page based on functionality:

1. Static Webpage
2. Dynamic Webpage

Static Webpage
Static webpages are those webpages that cannot be modified or altered by the client. These are also
known as stationary or flat web pages. They are displayed on the client's browser in the same format
and manner as they are saved in the webserver. Users can only load the page and read the
information but cannot perform any change on the page.

A static webpage is generally made up of HTML and CSS only.

Dynamic Webpage
As the name suggests, Dynamic webpages are dynamic, which means it shows different information
at different point of time.

The dynamic webpage shows different content each time it is viewed. There are two types of
Dynamic web pages, which are:

Server-Side Dynamic Webpage: These web pages are created using Server-side scripting. These
pages are changed when they are visited or viewed. Some examples of server-side pages are login
pages, submission forms, shopping carts, etc. Various scripting languages such as PHP, ASP.Net, JSP,
etc., can be used for server-side scripting.

Client-side Dynamic Webpage: These web pages are created using Client-side scripting. These pages
get changed in response to actions that occur within that page, such as mouse or keyboard action.
Scripting languages such as JavaScript, Dart, etc., can be used for client-Side scripting.

Website
A website is a collection of many web pages, and web pages are digital files that are written using
HTML (HyperText Markup Language). To make your website available to every person in the world, it
must be stored or hosted on a computer connected to the Internet. Such computers are known as
a Web Server.

The website can be published on at least one web server and can be identified by a common domain
name, for example - javatpoint.com, google.com, youtube.com.
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Domain name: A domain name is a string of text that maps to an alphanumeric IP address, used to
access a website from client software. In plain English, a domain name is the text that a user types
into a browser window to reach a particular website. For instance, the domain name for Google is
‘google.com’.

The website’s web pages are linked with hyperlinks and hypertext and share a common interface
and design. The website might also contain some additional documents and files such as images,
videos, or other digital assets.

Components of a Website:
We know that a website is a collection of a webpages hosted on a web-server. These are the
components for making a website.

• Webhost:
Hosting is the location where the website is physically located. Group of webpages (linked
webpages) licensed to be called a website only when the webpage is hosted on the
webserver. The webserver is a set of files transmitted to user computers when they specify
the website’s address..

• Address:
Address of a website also knows as the URL of a website. When a user wants to open a
website then they need to put the address or URL of the website into the web browser, and
the asked website is delivered by the webserver.

• Homepage :
Home page is a very common and important part of a webpage. It is the first webpage that
appears when a visitor visits the website. The home page of a website is very important as it
sets the look and feel of the website and directs viewers to the rest of the pages on the
website.

• Design :
It is the final and overall look and feel of the website that has a result of proper use and
integration elements like navigation menus, graphics, layout, navigation menus etc.

• Content :
Every web pages contained on the website together make up the content of the website.
Good content on the webpages makes the website more effective and attractive.

• The Navigation Structure:

The navigation structure of a website is the order of the pages, the collection of what links to
what. Usually, it is held together by at least one navigation menu.

How to access Websites?

When we type a certain URL in a browser search bar, the browser requests the page from the Web
server and the Web server returns the required web page and its content to the browser. Now, it
differs from how the server returns the information required in the case of static and dynamic
websites.

Types of Website:
1. Static Website
2. Dynamic Website
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Static Websites
Static websites contain fixed number of pages and format of web page is fixed which delivers
information to the client. There are 110 changes in contents of web page while page is running on
client's browser. This kind of web sites created from HTML and CSS coding on simple text editor like
notepad. Example an organization site, institute site etc.

Static Website pages display the exact same information whenever anyone visits it. Static Website
pages do not have to be simple plain text. They can feature detailed multimedia design and even
videos. However, every visitor to that page will be greeted by the exact same text, multimedia
design or video every time he visits the page until you alter that page's source code.

Dynamic Website Pages

Dynamic websites can change the web page contents dynamically while the page is running on
client's browser. This kind of websites use server- side programming like PHP, Asp.NET. and JSP etc.
to modify page contents on run time. Dynamic websites use client side scripting for prepare dynamic
design and server- side code to handle event, manage session and cookies, and storing and
retrieving data from database. Example E-commerce sites, online form application, E-governance
site, social networking sites etc.

Dynamic Website pages are capable of producing different content for different visitors from the
same source code file. The website can display different content based on what operating system or
browser the visitor is using, whether she is using a PC or a mobile device, or even the source that
referred the visitor. A dynamic Website page is not necessarily better than a static Website page.
The two simply serve different purposes.

Difference Between Static and Dynamic Websites:

Static Website Dynamic Website

Content of Web pages can not be change at Content of Web pages can be changed.
runtime.

No interaction with database possible. Interaction with database is possible

It is faster to load as compared to dynamic It is slower than static website.

website.

Cheaper Development costs. More Development costs.

No feature of Content Management. Feature of Content Management System.

HTML, CSS, Javascript is used for developing the Server side languages such as PHP, Node.js
website. are used.

Same content is delivered everytime the page is Content may change everytime the page is
loaded. loaded.

There are different types of websites on the whole internet, we had chosen some most common
categories to give you a brief idea –
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• Blogs: These types of websites are managed by an individual or a small group of persons,
they can cover any topics — they can give you fashion tips, music tips, travel tips, fitness
tips. Nowadays professional blogging has become an external popular way of earning money
online.
• E-commerce: These websites are well known as online shops. These websites allow us to
make purchasing products and online payments for products and services. Stores can be
handled as standalone websites.
• Portfolio: These types of websites acts as an extension of a freelancer resume. It provides a
convenient way for potential clients to view your work while also allowing you to expand on
your skills or services.
• Brochure: These types of websites are mainly used by small businesses, these types of
websites act as a digital business card, and used to display contact information, and to
advertise services, with just a few pages.
• News and Magazines: These websites needs less explanation, the main purpose of these
types of websites is to keep their readers up-to-date from current affairs whereas magazines
focus on the entertainment.
• Social Media: We all know about some famous social media websites like Facebook, Twitter,
Reddit, and many more. These websites are usually created to let people share their
thoughts, images, videos, and other useful components.
• Educational: Educational websites are quite simple to understand as their name itself
explains it. These websites are designed to display information via audio or videos or images.
• Portal: These types of websites are used for internal purposes within the school, institute, or
any business, These websites often contain a login process allowing students to access their
credential information or allows employees to access their emails and alerts.

Client Server Computing Concepts

In client server computing, the clients requests a resource and the server provides that resource. A
server may serve multiple clients at the same time while a client is in contact with only one server.
Both the client and server usually communicate via a computer network but sometimes they may

reside in the same system.

An illustration of the client server system is given as follows −

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Characteristics of Client Server Computing

The salient points for client server computing are as follows:

• The client server computing works with a system of request and response. The client sends a
request to the server and the server responds with the desired information.

• The client and server should follow a common communication protocol so they can easily
interact with each other. All the communication protocols are available at the application
layer.

• A server can only accommodate a limited number of client requests at a time. So it uses a
system based to priority to respond to the requests.

• Denial of Service attacks hindera servers ability to respond to authentic client requests by
inundating it with false requests.

• An example of a client server computing system is a web server. It returns the web pages to
the clients that requested them.

Difference between Client Server Computing and Peer to Peer Computing

The major differences between client server computing and peer to peer computing are as follows:

• In client server computing, a server is a central node that services many client nodes. On the
other hand, in a peer to peer system, the nodes collectively use their resources and
communicate with each other.

• In client server computing the server is the one that communicates with the other nodes. In
peer to peer to computing, all the nodes are equal and share data with each other directly.

• Client Server computing is believed to be a subcategory of the peer to peer computing.

Advantages of Client Server Computing

The different advantages of client server computing are −

• All the required data is concentrated in a single place i.e. the server. So it is easy to protect
the data and provide authorisation and authentication.

• The server need not be located physically close to the clients. Yet the data can be accessed
efficiently.

• It is easy to replace, upgrade or relocate the nodes in the client server model because all the
nodes are independent and request data only from the server.

• All the nodes i.e clients and server may not be build on similar platforms yet they can easily
facilitate the transfer of data.

Disadvantages of Client Server Computing

The different disadvantages of client server computing are −

• If all the clients simultaneously request data from the server, it may get overloaded. This
may lead to congestion in the network.
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• If the server fails for any reason, then none of the requests of the clients can be fulfilled. This
leads of failure of the client server network.

• The cost of setting and maintaining a client server model are quite high.

Advantages Disadvantages

The centralized network has complete If the primary server goes down, the
leverage to control the processes and entire architecture is disrupted.
activities.

All devices in the network can be controlled It is expensive to operate because of the
centrally. cost of heavy hardware and software
tools.

Users have the authority to access any file, This architecture requires particular OSs
residing in the central storage, at any time. related to networking.

It provides a good user interface, easy file Too many users at once can cause the
finding procedure, and management system problem of traffic congestion.
for organizing files.

Easy sharing of resources across various It requires highly technical stuff, such as
platforms is possible. server machines, for maintenance of the
network.

Components of client server architecture:

Essentially, three components are required to make client server architecture work. The three
components are workstations, servers, and networking devices. Let us, now, discuss them in detail:

1. Workstations: Workstations are also called client computers. Workstations work as

subordinates to servers and send them requests to access shared files and databases. A
server requests information from the workstation and performs several functions as a
central repository of files, programs, databases, and management policies. Workstations are
governed by server-defined policies.
2. Servers: Servers are defined as fast processing devices that act as centralized repositories of
network files, programs, databases, and policies. Servers have huge storage space and
robust memory to deal with multiple requests, approaching simultaneously from various
workstations. Servers can perform many roles, such as mail server, database server, file
server, and domain controller, in client server architecture at the same time.
3. Networking devices: Now that we know about the roles that workstations and servers play,
let us learn about what connects them, networking devices. Networking devices are a
medium that connects workstations and servers in client server architecture. Many
networking devices are used to perform various operations across the network. For
example, a hub is used for connecting a server to various workstations . Repeaters are used
to effectively transfer data between two devices. Bridges are used to isolate network
segmentation.

Categories of Client-Server Computing

The functionality of client server architecture is in various tiers.
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1. One-Tier architecture: consists of a simple program running on a single computer without

requiring access to the network. User requests don’t manage any network protocols,
therefore the code is simple and the network is relieved of the extra traffic.
2. Two-Tier architecture: consists of the client, the server, and the protocol that links the two
tiers. The Graphical User Interface code resides on the client host and the domain logic
resides on the server host. The client-server GUI is written in high-level languages such as
C++ and Java.
3. Three-Tier architecture: consists of a presentation tier, which is the User Interface layer, the
application tier, which is the service layer that performs detailed processing, and the data
tier, which consists of a database server that stores information.
4. N-Tier architecture: divides an application into logical layers, which separate responsibilities
and manage dependencies, and physical tiers, which run on separate machines, improve
scalability, and add latency from the additional network communication. N-Tier architecture
can be closed-layer, in which a layer can only communicate with the next layer down, or
open-layer, in which a layer can communicate with any layers below it.

Microsoft MySQL Server is a popular example of a three-tier architecture, consisting of three major
components: a protocol layer, a relational engine, and a storage engine. Any client machines that
connect directly to SQL Server must have a SQL Server client installed. Microsoft’s Client-Server
Runtime Process helps manage the majority of the graphical instruction sets on Windows operating
system.

Difference between peer-to-peer network and client server architecture

The following table lists five major differences between peer-to-peer architecture and client server
architecture:

Client server architecture Peer-to-peer architecture

It has specific clients and servers. There is no differentiation between clients and servers.

It has centralized data management. It has its own data and applications.

The purpose is to share information. Its main goal is to maintain connection among peers.

Data is provided only in response to In this network, peers have the authority to request as well
a request. as provide a service.

It is suitable for small as well as It is suitable for less users, less than 10 devices.
large networks.

Web Client:
A Web client is an application installed on the user’s device that they can use to surf the internet.
Web clients request computer servers for a webpage but don’t store them.

Without these clients, an ordinary user can’t use the internet. When you search for a particular
webpage through your browser, it retrieves the page from the appropriate server and displays the
result. The client and server communicate via HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).

Example of Web Clients

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Some popular examples of web clients include Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Tor, etc. So all
types of internet browsers are client software. However, there’re other types of clients that many
people use for everyday tasks. Video calling solutions like Zoom or Jitsi are one example of such
clients. And so are SSH clients such as PuTTY or WinSCP. They allow users to connect to a different
machine over the web.

Web Server:
A Web Servers are systems that are connected to the internet and store web pages. In addition it
sends out requested data over the web using HTTP. In nutshell, like Apache– the Web Servers are
just like libraries for web pages. They store, process and deliver the web resources to the client
software.

Servers can also use other data transfer protocols such as SMTP and FTP. Mail servers use SMTP for
transferring emails from one user to another. Additionally FTP server is used for high speed file
transfer operations.

Examples of Web Servers

There are different types of server software for delivering web content to end users. Some popular
web servers include Apache, Microsoft IIS(Internet Information Services), lighttpd, and Nginx.

Client Side and Server Side Scripting

What is Client-side Programming?

The execution of several programs on the front-end or specifically the Client, is said to be Client-side
programming. Many functionalities are added in the web application for better user experience with
the help of the programs that runs on the front-end. Hence, this is also called Front-end
Programming. But What is the motive of Client-side programming? The main motive of client-side
programming is to create interactive and appealing web pages, utilizing the power of temporary
storages such as local storage and session storage and reducing the server load as well by executing
some scripts on the client-side only. The client side is also used to send requests to the server for
various functions like data retrieval and sending.

Client-side development (front end) of programs run on the client’s or user’s device. Client-side
developers work on the parts of a website with which the user can interact. Front-end development
aims to produce visually appealing websites that are visually appealing and catch the interest of
consumers.

Client-side developers are in charge of a variety of tasks, including:

• Designing website layouts

• Creating user interfaces

• Form validation is being added.

• Including visual aspects such as colours and typefaces

Web designers, UI/UX designers, and full-stack developers are typically in charge of creating
interactive and user-friendly client-side designs.

Developers on the client-side are often fluent in the following programming languages.
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• HTML – Hypertext Markup Language, or HTML, is a markup language that is the de facto
standard for creating websites. HTML creates the framework of a website and renders it in a
browser.

• CSS – Developers can add visual design components to an HTML-coded website using CSS,
often called Cascading Style Sheets. To make their websites appear visually appealing on
customers’ devices, developers can employ CSS.

• JavaScript – JavaScript is a scripting language that programmers can use for various tasks,
including creating websites and web apps. Developers can use JavaScript to create dynamic,
interactive web pages.

Features of Client-side Scripting

There are various features of client-side scripting. Some main features of the client-side scripting are
as follows:

• It is intended to execute code on which a web browser runs, and the results of the inputs are
delivered to an accessible user.

• Client-side scripting enables greater involvement with clients via the browser and is used to
validate programs and functionality based on the request.

• The client does not include any contact with the server in client-side scripting; the only
interaction is receiving the requested data.

• It is built to perform code on which a web browser runs and accessible user gets the result of
the inputs.

• Client In client-side scripting, it does not include any interaction with the server, the ony
interaction done is receiving the data which was requested.

• Allows more interactivity with the clients using the browser and used to validate program
and functionality according to the request.

What Is Server-side Programming?

The execution of several programs on the back-end or specifically the servers, is said to be Server-
side programming or Server-side scripting. Many functionalities are added in the web application for
better user experience with the help of the programs that run on the backend. Hence, this is also
called Back-end Programming. The main question is why do we need server-side or backend
programming? Because when we deal with huge collections of data, we need servers that have
databases to store such a huge amount of data. Then server-side programs are used to perform
various operations on that data. In simple words, All the backend-code is maintained on the servers.

Server-side development refers to the programming that takes place on a server. This refers to
databases and other programs that impact the performance and speed of websites. Because web
browsers, or clients, communicate with web servers to retrieve information, server-side
programming is critical.

Server-side developers are responsible for a range of duties, including the following:

• dynamic website coding

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• the development of web applications

• connecting databases and websites altogether

Server-side development is generally done by software developers, database administrators, and

web developers.

Normally, server-side developers must be skilled in several languages. Server-side developers are
often proficient in the following languages.

• Java – Java is an object-oriented programming language that programmers can use for
several tasks, such as creating software and applications. One of the most widely used
server-side programming languages is Java.

• Python – Python is an object-oriented, all-purpose programming language that

programmers can use for creating operating systems, web applications, and other things.
Data research, finance, computers, and other disciplines all use Python.

• SQL – SQL (Structured Query Language) is the industry-standard language for interfacing
with databases. Developers can use SQL to manipulate data in databases, such as changing,
retrieving, and removing data.

Features of Server-side Scripting

There are various features of server-side scripting. Some main features of the server-side scripting
are as follows:

• It is connected with data access, error handling, and data processing speed.
• It is processed and interacts with the server.
• Using a highly integrated programming language makes it more secure than client-side
scripting.
• Provides every request which is being asked by the client and responds accordingly.
• Secure than the client-side scripting by using a highly integrated programming language
• Server-side scripting is associated with accessing data, error handling, and the fastest
processing of the data.
• It is processed and communicates with the server.

Difference between Client-Side Scripting and Server-Side Scripting.

Basis CLIENT-SIDE SCRIPTING SERVER-SIDE SCRIPTING

Primary The primary function of client-side The primary function of server-side

function scripting is to provide the requested scripting is to manipulate and give
output to the end-user access to the required database as per
request.

Uses The client-side is used as the front The server-side is used as a back-end
end, where the user gets to see what where data is processed and is not
we have browsed. visible to the client user.

Code On the client side, the user is allowed Server-side scripting allows the back-
allowance to access the code written after end developer to hide the source code
verifying the user’s need. from the user.
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Processing The client-side does not need any Server-side scripting on the other hand
interaction with the server. is all about communicating with the
servers.

Function Used for the visibility and getting out Used for the customization or
the required data from servers modification of the data to change the
database website dynamically.

Dependability Client-side scripting depends upon Serve-side does not depend on the
the user’s browser version. client.

Security This way of scripting is less secure Server-side scripting is considered as a

than Server-side scripting because of more secure way while working on a
the accessibility of code provided to web application
the client.

Connectivity The client-side does not connect to The server-side helps connect with the
the database at the webserver. database, which is already stored in the
server database.

File Access It does have any access to the files It has total access to the files which are
present in the web servers. But we stored in the web database server.
have an option to upload files from
the front end

Occurrence It occurs when the browser process It only acts after the client initiates the
all the codes, and then it reacts browsing request.
according to the client’s query.

Running It runs on the end-users system. It runs on the webserver.

Languages HTML, JavaScript, CSS are used to PHP, Python, Ruby, nodejs are some of
display the request the programming languages used at
server-side