READ: Types of Applications
Types of Applications
Client/Server applications
A program that is installed on multiple com**rs and runs over a network. Typically, these programs consist of a single server application and several client applications. For example, a server application has been installed on Com**r 1 in the image below.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Server-based-network.svg/1000px-Server-based-network.svg.png
You install a client application on Com**rs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The program on Com**rs 2-7 have to access the application on Com**r 1 in order to work. The popular game World of Warcraft is exactly this: Installing WOW on your com**r does no good unless the game can access the WOW servers.
The primary benefit to client/server applications is that multiple people can be working with the same data at the same time. In the WOW example, multiple players are playing in the same game at the same time.
Another example of this is Instant Messenger. Have you ever noticed that your IM doesn't work if you aren't connected to the internet? That's because the client (on your com**r) can't function without access to the server.
You install a client application on Com**rs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The program on Com**rs 2-7 have to access the application on Com**r 1 in order to work. The popular game World of Warcraft is exactly this: Installing WOW on your com**r does no good unless the game can access the WOW servers.
The primary benefit to client/server applications is that multiple people can be working with the same data at the same time. In the WOW example, multiple players are playing in the same game at the same time.
Another example of this is Instant Messenger. Have you ever noticed that your IM doesn't work if you aren't connected to the internet? That's because the client (on your com**r) can't function without access to the server.