Fat client

In Computing, a fat client (also known as a rich client or thick client) is a term from Client-server architecture for a client that performs the bulk of the data processing operations. The data itself is stored on the server. See thin client for contrast and for a more in-depth discussion.

Although the term usually refers to software, it can also apply to a network computer that has relatively strong processing abilities.

An example of a fat client would be a Swing (Java) application.

==Observation==

Starting around 2003 the term rich client has taken on a different meaning than thick client. It has come to mean a hybrid of thick and thin , or an architecture where the amount of client vs. server CPU utilization is more balanced. The client may look and behave like a thick client, while being fully network based like a thin client architecture. See Rich Internet Application.