Server-Side vs Client-Side Objects in Google Earth Engine

Google Earth Engine (GEE) is a cloud-based platform that provides a massive catalogue of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets, along with powerful tools to analyze and visualize them. Within GEE, objects can be categorized into two primary types: server-side objects and client-side objects.

Server-Side Objects

Server-side objects are created and processed entirely on GEE’s cloud infrastructure. They reside in GEE’s servers and are computationally expensive to manipulate. Once a server-side object is created, it remains on the server until you explicitly delete it.

EECU (Earth Engine Compute Units) measures the computational resources required to execute a task or script in Google Earth Engine Server.

• Start with ee.: Server-side objects in Google Earth Engine (GEE) are typically prefixed with ee.. This indicates that they are created and manipulated on GEE's cloud infrastructure.

Examples:

ee.ImageCollection('LANDSAT/LC08/C01/T1_SR')
ee.Geometry.Rectangle(-122.35, 37.77, -122.15, 37.97)
ee.FeatureCollection('USDA/ERS/Global_Trade')
ee.Algorithms.Landsat.thermalAnomaly        

Client-Side Objects

Client-side objects are created and manipulated within your browser. They are less computationally expensive than server-side objects but have limited capabilities. Client-side objects are often used to visualize data or interact with the user interface. Client-side objects in GEE are created and manipulated within your browser. They are not directly prefixed with ee..

Common Client-Side Objects:

• Do not start with ee.
• Map: A visual representation of the Earth’s surface.
• Layer: A visual element added to the map, such as an image, feature collection, or table.
• Chart: A graphical representation of data, such as a line chart or bar chart.
• UI Component: An interactive element, such as a button, slider, or text input.

Examples:

• Map (a GEE Map instance)
• ui.Button (a GEE user interface button)
• ui.chart (a GEE chart)
• layer (a GEE layer added to the map)

In summary, server-side objects are the backbone of GEE, handling data processing and analysis. Client-side objects provide the user interface and visualization capabilities. By understanding the differences between these two types of objects, you can effectively leverage GEE’s capabilities to analyze and visualize geospatial data.

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