Client and Protocol
Networked computers can communicate with each other through a type of software that is already included with your computer's operating system, such as Windows. The software runs in the background and plays an integral role in specifying the "techie" aspects of networking. Client and protocol are two important components in networking software.
Client
The software that provides your computer with access to network services. The computer that requests information from a network is usually referred to as the client. For example, when you are surfing the Internet, your computer makes client requests to receive a Web site from somewhere in the US or anywhere around the world.
Protocol
This is the language that computers use to communicate with each other. The industry standard in networking today is called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Along with your home network, it is the same protocol most commonly used on the Internet.
