Client/Server networking is a system of networking which involves "client" or "workstation" computers that request services -- and "server" computers that provide services. In the client/server model, the workstations are the computers at which people work, while the servers are often mounted in a centrally-located rack.

Servers are often named for the service they provide. For instance, "file servers" store common data for the workstations to access via the Local Area Network (LAN). "Application servers" store applications or programs which the workstations run from across the LAN. "Video servers" store and are optimized to provide digitized video over the LAN, and so on.