webklient

Webklient is a software component that accesses resources on the World Wide Web by issuing HTTP or HTTPS requests to web servers. In German-language computing, the term corresponds to “web client” and can describe a web browser, a library, or any application that consumes web services.

Role and capabilities: A webklient generates requests, handles responses, and processes or renders data. It manages session state, cookies, caching, and user authentication flow. In client-server architectures it acts as the consumer of APIs or web pages, often operating on user devices or within servers as a backend client.

Types: Web browsers, mobile and desktop application clients, command-line tools, and backend services acting as API clients. Some clients present user interfaces; others are headless and used for automation or testing.

Protocols and formats: The standard transport is HTTP or HTTPS. Clients may implement RESTful APIs, GraphQL, or other web service patterns. Data is commonly exchanged as JSON or XML; content negotiation and MIME types are used to interpret responses.

Development and security: Key considerations include statelessness, authentication (OAuth, API keys, tokens), rate limiting, error handling, redirects, and proper TLS configuration. Developers must validate inputs, secure storage of credentials, and guard against common web vulnerabilities.

Context: The term contrasts with the web server that serves resources; together they form the client-server model of the World Wide Web.