The client-side object model (CSOM) is meant for remote scripting and was released to replace the cumbersome web services SOAP implementation. You will find examples in two flavors: the JavaScript object model (JSOM) and the C# implementation (CSOM). All examples are useful but only the C# version can be used from PowerShell. CSOM examples can be used in SharePoint Online, but not through the SharePoint Online API. Later on in this chapter we will go over how to work with it.

CSOM and JSOM make use of a batched request system (so that the user can package as many operations as possible in one single request to the server). You can recognize examples as both rely on the class ClientContext to manage the connection with the server.