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A "remote desktop" is a technology that allows a user to connect to and control a different computer over a network, such as the internet, as if they were sitting in front of it. It is used for remote work, IT support, and managing systems from a distance. The core protocol for this, especially on Windows, is the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

How it works: When a user connects to a remote desktop, their own computer's display shows the desktop of the remote machine. Keystrokes and mouse movements from the local user are sent over the network to the remote computer, which then processes them. The remote computer sends back the resulting screen updates to the user's local machine.

Key components and terms

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): The protocol that handles the transmission of keyboard and mouse input from the client to the server and the screen updates back from the server to the client.

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC): The client software used to connect to a remote computer. It is a common feature on Windows operating systems.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS): A Windows Server role that allows a server to host multiple, simultaneous client sessions for users to connect to.

Virtual Network Computing (VNC): An alternative, platform-agnostic technology for remote desktop connections that is not tied to Windows.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): A setup where each user is given their own virtual machine (VM) on the server, providing a more personalized desktop environment.

RemoteApp: A feature of RDS that delivers a single application to the user's machine in its own window, rather than the entire desktop.