Front EndAfront end is either a computer between a user and another computer or a program which works as an interface between a user and another program. Front ends improve the usability of a computer or operating system.
The term front end originally referred only to hardware, and meant that a computer provided an interface between the user and another computer. This use of the term is still widely used today. The purpose of having a computer interacting between the user and main computer is that front end computer often provides more usability than the more powerful, but less user-friendly main computer. Examples of hardware front ends are mainframe computers and terminals, and client and server computers. The interfacing computer allows access to the features and power of the main computer, but normally has easier-to-use tools such as a graphic user interface.
Today, there are also software front ends. Again, the characteristic feature is improved usability. An example of a software front end is an Internet browser, such as Mosaic or Netscape. Browsers are considered to be a front end between the user and the server software.