Client
In
Computing, a
client is a
system that accesses a (remote)
service on another
computer by some kind of
network. The term originated from devices that were not capable of running their own stand-alone
programss, but could interact with remote computers via some network. These
dumb terminalss were clients of the
time-sharing mainframe computer. The
client-server is still used today on the
Internet, where a
user may connect to a service operating on a remote system.
See also: server.
In ancient Rome, a client was someone, usually a freed slave, who was attached to a rich patron benefactor; this was necessary for many who were not legally able to secure citizenship, a right initially reserved for the patrician class.
In traditional commerce and in the marketing and provision of services, a client or customer consumes or benefits from a product or service.
See also: marketing, end-user, consumer