====== User Agent ======

An interactive computer program that provides a user interface to a [[client-server_application|client-server]] or [[peer-to-peer]] application. Modern user agents often provide a friendly, easy to use, graphical user interface that hides the details of the underlying [[application protocol]]. In many cases, a //user agent// will implement the client-side protocols of a networked application, creating and destroying [[socket|sockets]] for network communications, sending the client-side messages of the application protocol on behalf of the user, and parsing and displaying the server responses. 

Examples of well known user agents are [[web browser|web browsers]], [[e-mail]] clients, instant messaging clients, [[FTP]] clients, [[telnet]] clients, [[file sharing]] tools, etc. Depending on the application, a single //user agent// may be able to provide an interface to more than one application protocol. For example, a web browser can typically provide access to Telnet, [[HTTP]], FTP and others, and an email client will typically be able to "speak" [[SMTP]], [[POP]] and [[IMAP]] (in addition to HTTP for access to webmail mailboxes).
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