What is the Client-Server Model?

There is a server process that can process requests from one or more client processes concurrently over a network connection. The client machine provides front-end application software for accessing the data on the server (it may include a graphical interface).

The client initiates transactions, the server processes the transactions (though it can also activate stored procedures), triggers, and stored business rules. Typically, there is a structured query language (for example, SQL) that can be used to access data stored on the server side.

Other aspects of a client-server architecture are:

• the application program interface (API) and how it processes service requests between a client and a server,

• the network communication protocols and facilities that link the client and server, and

• the system hardware and software requirements.