When data is requested by a client, what device responds to that request?

When a client requests data, the server is the device that responds to that request. In a network environment, the client is typically a device that initiates a request for data, but it does not contain the requested data. Instead, the server hosts the data and processes requests made by clients. Once the request is received, the server retrieves the necessary information and sends it back to the client over the network.

A server is designed to manage resources, provide services, or host applications and data that clients can access. This role is fundamental in client-server architecture, where the server acts as a centralized resource that multiple clients can reach out to for information or services.

In contrast, routers and switches serve different purposes in a network. A router directs network traffic between different networks, while a switch connects devices within the same network, facilitating communication among them. Clients initiate requests, but they do not provide the data themselves.