Client-server technology is a fundamental concept in modern computing, but there are alternative terms that convey a similar meaning. For example, the term "distributed systems" describes a technical architecture in which software applications are split between client and server components and operate across multiple devices. Another synonym for client-server technology is "remote procedure call", where a client program requests an action on a remote server, which then executes the request and returns a result. "Network computing" is another term that refers to the use of client-server technology to access resources and applications that are not directly available on a local device, but instead are accessed over a network connection.