Definition: fat client

A user's computer that stores applications on the local hard disk or SSD. Although users generally work with many Web-based applications, the combination of the two is how computers are typically used (see Web application).

Billions of people use fat clients although they would never use or even know the term. Phones and tablets also function the same way (a browser for the Web and local installs). Contrast with thin client and fat server. See two-tier client/server.

A True Fat Client

This is a very fat client with a huge storage capacity! (Image courtesy of Originetics, Inc.)