What is a Client in networking?

In networking, a client is best defined as a computer or device that makes requests to a server for data or services. This relationship is fundamental to client-server architecture, where the client sends requests for resources like files, web pages, or other information to a server, which then processes the request and sends back the appropriate response. This dynamic is integral to many online interactions, where the device accessing the internet or a local network behaves as a client by seeking information or services from a centralized system, typically managed by a server.

The other options refer to different roles within a network. A device that stores data for the network often describes a server or a storage device, while a router is responsible for directing data traffic between different networks rather than making requests to a server. Printers on a network typically serve as output devices that respond to requests from clients but do not fit the definition of a client in a networking context.