Difference between Server-side Scripting and Client-side Scripting

The scripts may be created in two ways: on the client side or the server side, where the server-side scripts are processed on a server. In contrast, client-side scripting needs browsers to execute scripts on the client system but doesn't connect with the server executing the client-side scripts.

In this article, you will learn about the difference between server-side scripting and client-side scripting. But before discussing the differences, you must know about server-side scripting and client-side scripting.

What is Server-side Scripting?

Server-side scripting is a programming technique for creating code that may run software on the server side. In other words, server-side scripting is any scripting method that may operate on a web server. At the server end, actions such as website customization, dynamic changes in website content, response creation to user requests, database access, and many more are carried out.

Server-side scripting creates a communication channel between a server and a client. Previously, CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts were used to implement server-side scripting, and CGI was created to execute scripts written in computer languages such as C++ or Perl on websites.

The server-side is made up of three parts: the database, the server, the APIs, and the backend web software written in the server-side scripting language. When a browser requests a page with server-side scripting, the web server evaluates the script before delivering the page to the browser. In this case, script processing may entail collecting information from a database, performing simple computations, or selecting the relevant material to be shown on the client end. The output is provided to the web browser when the script is processed. The web server hides the scripts from the end user until the content is delivered, making the data and source code safer.

Server-side scripting languages

There are various server-side scripting languages. Some main server-side scripting languages are as follows:

Python

It is an open-source language that is very powerful and easy to learn. It is suitable for beginners because it is simple to learn and read. It is believed to be used by Google and YouTube. It is a OOPs language with dynamic typing and data structures. It has grown to be one of the most popular languages for both quick application development and web development.

PHP

It is an open-source server-side scripting programming language mainly designed for web apps and is the most utilized scripting language. It allows you to retrieve and manipulate data from a database and is utilized along with SQL to query the database. It is a fast and simple language to learn and develop, and Facebook, Wikipedia, and WordPress utilize it.

Ruby

It is a free and open-source programming language that was developed and firstly introduced in the early 1990s. It is a dynamic language that is simple to read and write and an OOPs language that is interpreted as it runs. It has evolved continuously since its development and is one of the most utilized web development languages.

Features of Server-side Scripting

There are various features of server-side scripting. Some main features of the server-side scripting are as follows:

1. It is connected with data access, error handling, and data processing speed.
2. It is processed and interacts with the server.
3. Using a highly integrated programming language makes it more secure than client-side scripting.

What is Client-side Scripting?

Client-side scripting generates code that may be executed on the client end without needing server-side processing. These scripts are typically embedded into HTML text. Client-side scripting may be utilized to check the user's form for problems before submitting it and to change the content based on the user input. The web needs three components to function: client, database, and server.

The client-side scripting may significantly reduce server demand. It is intended to be utilized as a scripting language with a web browser as the host program. The HTML and CSS are delivered as plain text when a user uses a browser to request a webpage from the server, and the browser understands and renders the web content at the client end.

Client-side Scripting Languages

There are various client-side scripting languages. Some main client-side scripting languages are as follows:

HTML

It is not a scripting language; it is a markup language. However, it serves as the basic language for client-side web development, also referred to as front-end. The presence of hypertext on a page denotes its hyperlinks. The markup language uses tags to define the structure and layout. It is a programming language that is mainly used to design a web page's structure and layout.

CSS

CSS is an abbreviation for Cascading Style Sheets. It provides a technique for creating graphic elements that help a web application's appearance look more appealing. A style tag in a web page defines all the specifics regarding the web page's presentation, including its border styles, image styles, colour, font styles, borders, format, font size, margins, padding, etc.

JavaScript

It is a client-side scripting language designed for a specific purpose, but several JavaScript frameworks are already utilized as server-side scripting technologies.

VBScript

VBScript is based on Visual Basic, which was created by Microsoft in 1996. It is a scripting programming language that is lightweight, fast, and easy to learn. It is not a OOPs language but is similar to JavaScript.

Features of Client-side Scripting

There are various features of client-side scripting. Some main features of the client-side scripting are as follows:

1. It is intended to execute code on which a web browser runs, and the results of the inputs are delivered to an accessible user.
2. Client-side scripting enables greater involvement with clients via the browser and is used to validate programs and functionality based on the request.
3. The client does not include any contact with the server in client-side scripting; the only interaction is receiving the requested data.

Main Differences between the Server-side scripting and Client-side scripting

Here, you will learn the main differences between Server-side Scripting and Client-side Scripting. Some main differences between Server-side Scripting and Client-side Scripting are as follows:

1. Server-side scripting is utilized in the backend when the source code is invisible or hidden on the client side. In contrast, client-side scripting is utilized at the front end, which users may access via the browser.
2. The files are inaccessible to the client-side script. In contrast, the server-side script has access to the files on the web server.
3. Server-side scripting is very useful for personalizing web pages and implementing dynamic updates to websites. In contrast, the client-side script may effectively minimize the load on the server.
4. The client-side script responds faster than the server-side script.
5. Client-side scripting is less secure than server-side scripting due to the server-side scripts are commonly concealed from the client end. In contrast, the client-side scripts are exposed to users.
6. The client-side script is run on a local computer. In contrast, the server-side script is run on a remote machine.
7. The client-side programming languages are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In contrast, server-side scripting programming languages, including PHP, ColdFusion, Python, ASP.net, Java, C++, Ruby, C#,
8. A server-side script communicates with the server when it is executed. In contrast, Client-side scripting doesn't need server involvement.
9. The script on the client side lacks security. However, the server-side script is protected.
10. The client-side script is dependent on the user's browser version. In contrast, the Server-side doesn't depend on the client.

Head-to-head comparison between Server-side Scripting and Client-side Scripting

Here, you will learn the head-to-head comparisons between server-side scripting and client-side scripting. The main differences between server-side scripting and client-side scripting are as follows:

Conclusion

The server-side scripting and client-side scripting collaborate with one another. However, these two scripting techniques are different, where the client-side scripting focuses on developing the web application or website's interface to be more appealing and functional. On the other hand, server-side scripting mainly focuses on data access techniques, quick processing, error handling, etc.