A <strong>client</strong> is the one who asks for something, and a <strong>server</strong> is the one who provides it. In web applications, your browser (client) asks for web pages, and a server sends them back.
The Customer and Shop Owner
Just like a customer asks a shop owner for products, a client asks a server for data or services.
Client
Asks for things
Server
Provides things
Response
What you get back
Client
Asking for data
Sends response
Client Makes Request
You type a URL or click a link in your browser
Request Travels
Your request goes over the internet to the server
Server Processes
The server finds what you asked for
Server Responds
The server sends back the data (HTML, images, etc.)
Client Displays
Your browser shows you the web page
Wrong
The client and server are physical computers in different locations
Correct
Client and server are roles. Your laptop can be both a client (when browsing) and a server (when running a local server). It's about who's asking vs who's answering.
When you check Instagram:
Your phone (client) asks Instagram's servers for your feed
Instagram's server finds your personalized posts
Server sends back the data
Your phone displays the feed
Every like, comment, or scroll is a new request from client to server