Introduction
In the previous chapter, we learned about the basics of JavaScript, history and how to use JavaScript with example programs.
In this chapter, we will learn about Client-side vs Server-side Programming Languages and how a client-side programming language works.
Basic Background
Web development is all about communication and data exchange. This communication takes place via two parties over the HTTP protocol.
These parties are:
Server
The Server is responsible for serving the web pages depending on the client/end-user requirement. It can be either static or dynamic.
Client
A client is a party that requests pages from the server and displays them to the end-user. In general a client program is a web browser.
Example | Working
We can explain this entire mechanism using the following:
- The user opens his web browser (client)
- The user starts browsing
(for example http://c-sharpcorner.com)
- The client forwards this request to the server, for accessing their web page.
- The server then acknowledges the request and replies back to the client program.
(An access link to that web page)
- The client then receives the page source and renders it.
(Into a viewable/under a stable website)
- Now the user types into the search bar
- The client then submits data to the server
- The server processes the data and replies back with a related search result
- The client again renders it back for the user's view
- The user gets access to the requested link.
Server-side Programming
Server-side programming can be explained as:
It is the general name for the kind of program that runs directly on the server.
Or we can say that server-side programming must deal with dynamic content. It runs on the server. Most web pages are not static since they deal with searching databases.
Server-side Uses
- It processes the user input
- Displays the requested pages
- Structure of web applications
- Interaction with servers/storages
- Interaction with databases
- Querying the database
- Encoding of data into HTML
- Operations over databases like delete, update.
Server-side Languages Example
There are several languages that can be used for server-side programming:
- PHP
- ASP.NET (C# OR Visual Basic)
- C++
- Java and JSP
- Python
- Ruby on Rails and so on.
Server-side Example
-
- using System;
-
- class ServerSide
- {
- public static void Main()
- {
- System.Console.WriteLine(“Hello C# Corner”);
-
- }
- }
Client-side Programming
Similarly to server-side programming, client-side programming is also the name of the entire program that runs on the client.
Or we can say that client-side programming mostly deals with the user interface with which the user interacts in the web. It is mostly a browser, in the user's machine, that runs the code and is mainly done in any scripting language like JavaScript (or we can use Flash instead of JavaScript or VNScript).
Client-side Uses
- Makes interactive web pages
- Make stuff work dynamically
- Interact with temporary storage
- Works as an interface between user and server
- Sends requests to the server
- Retrieval of data from Server
- Interact with local storage
- Provides remote access for client-server program
Client-side Languages Example
There are many client-side scripting languages too.
- JavaScript
- VBScript
- HTML (Structure)
- CSS (Designing)
- AJAX
- jQuery etc.
(Some other languages also can be used on the basis of the modeling/designing /graphics/animations and for extra functionalities.)
Client-side Example - // sample HTML code
- <html>
- <head>
- <title>Client Side </title>
- </head>
- <body>
- <h1>
- Hello C# Corner
- </h1>
- </body>
- </html>
Summary
In this chapter, we learned about Client-side vs Server-side Programming Languages and how a client-side programming language works with an example program.