In client/server architecture, adapters enable clients to manage
data from virtually any data source, and on any operating system,
through the use of SQL statements.
The client generates requests for data residing on the server.
The server acts as a source of data, and can accept requests from
multiple clients for data access and manipulation. Client/server
architecture divides a traditional single system into a front-end and
a back-end. The workload is distributed between the client and the
server. Communications software establishes the link between client
and server, and interfaces to the desired communications protocol.