client sides:::::::::::::::
Client-side scripting offers an easy way to provide additional functionality and flexibility to our project. HTML is very limited, it's main purpose is to display and format content. It allows little or no interaction with the visitors of our site.
Scripting technologies like JavaScript, JScript, VBScript and others are used on many sites to add extra functionality to a web site. Ranging from simple mouse over image effects, animation, form field validation to complex dynamic menu systems, these scripts enhance the functionality and user experience.
server sides:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The use of server-side scripting is often less visible to users. It is mostly used for content management, where the site's content is stored in a database, and presented to the user on request. Server-side technologies like PHP, ASP, JSP, Perl and many others have nearly become a requirement for successful web sites today.
Like client-side scripting, server-side scripting also enhances the functionality of our site. Forums, polls, guest books, searches and many other uses of this technology allow for far more interaction with our visitors than with HTML alone. And server-side scripting can be very useful in site maintenance. By creating a content management system (or “CMS”) we can provide ourself and our colleagues with an easy and efficient way to update our site.
differences::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The main difference between client and server-side scripting lies in the place and way it is executed. Client side scripts are downloaded by the browser, interpreted by the browser, and executed by the browser, depending on the memory, CPU speed and in when dealing with animation, even the video card in use on our visitors' computer. Server-side scripts run on the server and depend on the memory and CPU speed of the server. This difference is of vital importance when making a choice between client and server-side scripting solutions for our project.
Server-side scripting has to be supported by the server we will host our site from. While most decent web hosting companies support at least one server-side scripting language, many free web hosts may not. If our project requires server-side scripting, or if we are thinking of taking our first steps into this world, make sure our new or current host has support for it.
Client-side scripting relies on the browser and computer in use by the person visiting our web site. While this free of the costs of renting or running a proper server, it may increase project development time and costs to deal with the variety of browsers and hardware available to users. As more and more devices like PDA's, phones, gaming consoles, fridges and whatnot provide users with ways to browse the World Wide Web this becomes increasingly important.