Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In computer networking, the client-server model is a distributed application structure that partitions tasks or workloads between the providers of a resource or service, called servers, and service requesters, called clients.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us clarify the roles of the network components listed:
- A Client:
A client is a computer hardware device or software application that contacts a server to request resources, files, data, or services.
For example, a web browser on your personal computer acts as a client requesting web pages from a remote server over the internet.
- A Host:
A host is any computer or device connected to a network that has a unique IP address and can send or receive information.
Both clients and servers are hosts, making this term too broad for the specific role of a requesting machine.
- A Router:
A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks, acting as a traffic director rather than requesting files.
- A Web Server:
A web server is a computer that stores, processes, and delivers website files (such as HTML documents, images, and stylesheets) in response to incoming requests from clients.
Step 3: Final Answer:
A computer on a network that requests files from another computer is called a client.