Difference between Client side filter and Server side filters in Cyber Security

Last Updated : 05 Sep, 2024

Filters are key components in web applications that validate user input and ensure it meets certain standards. These filters can be implemented on the client side (within the user's web browser) or the server side (on the web server). Understanding the differences between client-side and server-side filters is necessary to maintain data quality and security in web applications.

client vs server side filter — Client Vs Server Side Filters

What is Server Side Filter?

Server-side filtering occurs on the web server after the user's input has been submitted. It's a crucial step in ensuring data integrity and security. Here are some important aspects of server-side filtering:

It's implemented using server-side languages like PHP, Python, or Java.
It provides a second layer of validation, catching any input that may have slipped through client-side filtering.
It's more secure than client-side filtering because it can't be easily bypassed or manipulated by users.
It's necessary for sensitive data, such as passwords or financial information.

Advantages of Server-Side Filters

Greater Security: Server-side filters are more secure as compared to client-side solution as they are not directly accessible by the user and cannot be tampered easily. This guarantees that all entries entered must be validated to serve in the view of the server.
Consistency: For the client, this is important because it means that no matter the environment that they are in, the server side filters impose equal validation measures across all servers.
Centralized Control: Since server-side filters can set at any time from the server and they can perform security filters at any points, so they facilitate the change of security policies for an overall application.

Disadvantages of Server-Side Filters

Increased Server Load: Due to the fact that all the filtering process is carried out by the server, it leads to the fact that the server load can be increased that, in turn, affects the performance of the website when there is a large flow of visitors.
Delayed Feedback: Users may also take a long time to be notified of particular invalid data as the latter has to go through the server to obtain a feedback.

What is Client Side Filter?

Client-side filtering takes place within the user's web browser. It's the first line of defense against invalid input and helps provide immediate feedback to the user. Here are some key points about client-side filtering:

It's implemented using JavaScript, which runs on the client's machine.
It can validate input as the user is typing, providing real-time feedback.
It reduces the number of invalid submissions sent to the server, improving overall application performance.
It's easily bypassed by savvy users, so it shouldn't be the only form of validation.

Advantages of Client-Side Filters

Immediate Feedback: Since the filtering occurs on the client device, the users get immediate feedback if the input they provided is not valid which provides better experience.
Reduced Server Load: They can also act as filters and thereby help to offload some of the data processing work onto the client side thereby increasing efficiency of the server.
Customization: While client side filters are also available for further selection and can therefore be set according to the clients need and requirement toward data validation.

Disadvantages of Client-Side Filters

Vulnerability to Bypass: Client-side filters can easily be circumvented by the user or disabled by the use of tools to remove the client side filters hence the security critical applications should not use the client-side filters.
Inconsistency: That is why the filtering is based on the client, and such parameters as the browser or the operating system, and it can produce significant security issues due to the non-uniform applying of filters.