Client & Server Side Processing

Client & Server Side Processing

1. Client Side Processing

   • Advantages
     • Speed
       • The interaction may be faster once the code has been downloaded with the page.
     • Security
       • It is more secure (than server-side processing) as all the action takes place in the downloaded page and nothing comes from the browser, which could cause corruption or security problems.
   • Disadvantages
     • It is server specific
       • Not all scripts work the same way on all browsers, so you may have to create different versions depending on the browsers used.
     • Computer Speed
       • It can be affected by the speed of your own computer. As all of the activity is taking place on a downloaded web page, the speed of the download and the speed of processing will depend on your computer system. If the processing is complex or resource hungry, it may run slowly or cause other programs to run slowly on your system.

2. Server Side Processing

   • Advantages
     • Efficiency
       • Complex code may run more efficiently, as it does not have to be downloaded on to the user’s computer.
     • Browser Independent
       • The code is browser independent so therefore can be run on any web browser.
     • Speed
       • Performance is affected only by the speed of the web server. As all of the processing is done on the web server, the speed of your own computer is only significant for the downloading of the web pages. All of the other processing takes place on a highly resourced and speedy server.
   • Disadvantages
     • Security
       • The exchange of data over the network may present security risks.
     • Overloading
       • A server needs to be able to cope with large volumes of users.