A client is a program which runs locally or on an application server, and allows individuals to choose their preferred interface for searching and retrieving information. It removes barriers between applications and allows the user access to data, irrespe ctive of where it is stored. Web browsers such as Mosaic or Netscape are clients - the various machines that they connect to are servers. A server offers the data to clients in a known fashion, either through a proprietary standard or an industry- wide st andard. Networked servers allow broad access.
Resource sharing is enhanced, and they permit many platform options.
Intensive processing, such as sorting large sets or performing complex searches, is done by the server, where it's faster. The client can perform light processing of its own, such as reformatting a reply from one server to be a query to another, for examp le in checking local journal holdings in different libraries. Usually, only data travels across the network, so retrieval of information is faster, with fewer transmission er rors. What is needed to ensure that any client can attach to any server is a standard and the standard is Z39.50 v2. It doesn't matter which company made the client or which company made the serv er, as long as they both follow the same standard.