Client
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
The client is YOU — or more specifically, your browser or app. It's the thing that makes requests to the server. The client asks, the server answers. Think of it as the customer ordering food from the kitchen.
Real Talk
A client is any device or software that initiates requests to a server and consumes the responses. This includes browsers, mobile apps, desktop applications, or even other servers calling APIs.
When You'll Hear This
"On the client side, we show a loading spinner while waiting." / "The client sends the user's token with every request."
Related Terms
API (Application Programming Interface)
An API is like a menu at a restaurant. The kitchen (server) can do a bunch of things, but you can only order what's on the menu.
Request
A request is what your browser (or app) sends to a server when it wants something. 'Give me the homepage.' 'Give me that image.
Response
A response is what the server sends back after receiving a request.
Server
A server is just a computer that waits around all day answering questions.