What is a client in the context of networking?

In the context of networking, a client is defined as a computer or device that requests services or resources from another computer, typically referred to as a server. Clients utilize the server’s resources to perform certain tasks, such as accessing data, running applications, or communicating with other devices. For instance, when a user opens a web browser to visit a website, the web browser acts as a client, sending requests for information to a web server, which then responds by sending the requested data back to the client.

This definition distinctly aligns with the concept of a client-server architecture, where clients rely on servers to provide essential services and resources. While servers are responsible for data management, storage, and processing, clients focus on interaction and presentation, often acting as endpoints in a network.

The other options present either different roles or functions not specific to what constitutes a client in networking: while a server does indeed provide data to clients, it does not define what a client is; encryption pertains to security measures, and networking protocols relate to the rules and conventions for communication between network devices, rather than to the definition of a client.