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Vincent Tommi
Vincent Tommi

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Client-Server Architecture: Basics of System Design Day 21

Ever wonder how websites or apps like YouTube or Instagram work? They use something called client-server architecture, a simple but super important idea that powers most web applications. Let’s break it down in an easy way!

What’s Going On?
Imagine you’re at a restaurant:

  • You (the customer) are like the client. This could be your web browser (like Chrome or Firefox), a mobile app, or anything you use to interact with a website or app.

  • The kitchen is like the server, a computer that’s always running, waiting for your orders (requests).

Here’s how it works:

  • You (the client) send an order to the kitchen, like asking for a pizza (this is a request to do something, like show a webpage or save your profile info).

  • The kitchen (the server) gets your order, makes the pizza (processes the request), and sends it back to you (the response).

That’s it! This back-and-forth is how most apps and websites work.

Here’s a diagram to show how a client and server talk to each other:

Conclusion
The client-server architecture is like the heartbeat of the internet. By understanding this simple idea—clients asking for things and servers delivering them—you’ve taken a big step toward grasping how modern apps and websites function. Keep exploring, and you’ll see this concept pop up everywhere in system design!

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