What is a Smart Client?

Keywords :
What is a Smart Client ?
Define Smart Client
SmartClient
------------------------
Smart Client

An Internet-connected device that allows the user's local applications to interact with server-based applications through the use of Web services.
For example, a smart client running a word processing application can interface with a remote database over the Internet in order to collect data from the database to be used in the word processing document.
Smart clients are distinguished by key characteristics:
* They support work offline
– smart clients can work with data even when they are not connected to the Internet (which distinguishes them from browser-based applications,
which do not work when the device is not connected to the Internet);
* Smart client applications have the ability to be deployed and updated in real time over the network from a centralized server;
* Smart client applications support multiple platforms and languages because they are built on Web services;
* Smart client applications can run on almost any device that has Internet connectivity,
including desktops, workstations, notebooks, tablet PCs, PDAs, and mobile phones.