If you're trying to make a game where players actually interact, this roblox networking tutorial will help you stop hitting a brick wall with scripts that only work for one person. It's one of the most frustrating moments for a new developer: you write a script to change the sky color or give a player a sword, it works perfectly in your solo test, but then you invite a friend and they can't see a single thing you're doing.
That happens because of the way Roblox handles data between different computers. To fix it, you have to understand the "handshake" between the server and the client.
The Big Split: Client vs. Server
Before we dive into the actual code, we have to talk about the two sides of the coin. Think of a Roblox game like a busy restaurant.
The Server is the kitchen. It's the source of truth. It decides if you actually have enough money to buy that burger, and it makes sure everyone in the dining room sees the same menu. If something happens on the server, everyone sees it.
The Client is the customer's table. Each player has their own "table" (their computer or phone). They can move their fork around or change their own napkin, but they can't just walk into the kitchen and start flipping burgers. In Roblox terms, if a LocalScript changes something on the client, the server (and every other player) has no idea it happened.
This is called FilteringEnabled. It's a security feature that prevents hackers from just deleting the entire map. Because of this, you need a way to send messages back and forth. That's where networking comes in.
Meet Your Best Friends: RemoteEvents
In any roblox networking tutorial, the RemoteEvent is the star of the show. It's basically a walkie-talkie. You put it in a place where both the server and the client can see it—usually ReplicatedStorage.
There are four main ways to use a RemoteEvent, but you'll mostly use these two:
- FireServer: The client calls the server. "Hey kitchen, I clicked the 'Buy' button!"
- FireClient: The server calls one specific player. "Hey Table 4, your order is ready!"
Setting Up Your First Event
First, go into your Explorer window, right-click ReplicatedStorage, and insert a RemoteEvent. Let's rename it to ChangeColorEvent.
Now, if you want a player to click a button and change a part's color for everyone, you can't just use a LocalScript to change the part. You have to tell the server to do it.
On the Client (inside a TextButton, for example): lua local event = game.ReplicatedStorage:WaitForChild("ChangeColorEvent") script.Parent.MouseButton1Click:Connect(function() event:FireServer("Bright red") end)
On the Server (in a Script in ServerScriptService): lua local event = game.ReplicatedStorage:WaitForChild("ChangeColorEvent") event.OnServerEvent:Connect(function(player, colorName) game.Workspace.Part.BrickColor = BrickColor.new(colorName) end)
Notice how the server script automatically receives the player who sent the message? You don't have to pass that manually; Roblox does it for you so you always know who is talking.
Why You Can't Always Trust the Client
One thing people often forget in a roblox networking tutorial is security. Since the client (the player's computer) is "vulnerable" to being messed with by exploiters, you should never trust the data they send blindly.
If you have a RemoteEvent called GiveGold, and the client sends FireServer(1000000), a lazy server script might just give them a million gold. A smart developer writes the server script to check: "Wait, is this player actually near the gold mine? Did they actually finish the quest?"
Always perform your validation on the server. The client should only be asking for things to happen; the server should be the one deciding if they're allowed to happen.
Using RemoteFunctions for Two-Way Talk
Sometimes you don't just want to send a message; you want an answer. That's where RemoteFunctions come in. They work similarly to RemoteEvents, but they "yield" (wait) until they get a response.
Imagine you're asking the server, "How much health do I have left?" and you need that number back to update a custom UI.
- Client calls
InvokeServer(). - Server does some math and
returnsa value. - Client receives that value and continues the script.
Just a heads-up: be careful with InvokeClient. If a player's internet is laggy or they're using a cheat to prevent the script from returning a value, your server script might hang forever. Most pros stick to FireClient and use a separate FireServer if they need a response back.
Handling Lag and Latency
Networking isn't instant. Information has to travel through fiber optic cables across the world, and that takes time. This is what we call latency or "ping."
If you're following this roblox networking tutorial to build a fast-paced combat game, lag is your biggest enemy. If a player swings a sword, and you wait for the message to hit the server before showing the animation, the game will feel "heavy" and slow.
To fix this, developers use Client-Side Prediction. You show the animation on the player's screen immediately so it feels snappy, while simultaneously sending the RemoteEvent to the server to handle the actual damage. If the server says "Actually, you missed," you can correct things later, but the initial visual feedback should be instant.
Syncing Data with ReplicatedFirst
While we're talking about networking, we should mention that not everything needs a RemoteEvent. Some stuff needs to be there the very second the player joins.
ReplicatedFirst is a folder where stuff gets sent to the player before anything else. It's usually used for loading screens. If you want a smooth experience, you don't want the player staring at a half-loaded map while your networking scripts are still trying to figure out what's going on.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even after reading a roblox networking tutorial, it's easy to slip up. Here are a few things that trip people up:
- Spamming Events: Don't fire a RemoteEvent every single frame (60 times a second). It'll clog the "pipes" and make the game laggy for everyone. If you're syncing a player's position, Roblox usually handles that automatically through physics. Only network what you absolutely have to.
- Infinite Loops: Be careful not to create a loop where the Server fires the Client, which then fires the Server back immediately, forever. You'll crash the server faster than you can say "oops."
- Forgetting WaitForChild: Networking takes time. Sometimes a script runs before the RemoteEvent has even loaded into the game. Always use
:WaitForChild("EventName")on the client side to avoid errors.
Final Thoughts on Networking
Mastering the way data moves between the server and the client is basically the "level up" point for any Roblox creator. Once you get the hang of RemoteEvents, you aren't just making a static world anymore—you're making a living, breathing experience where people can interact.
Don't get discouraged if your first few attempts result in some weird bugs or "Unknown Symbol" errors. Networking is tricky because you have to think about two things happening at once in different places. Keep practicing with simple buttons and parts, and soon enough, you'll be building complex systems like shops, round timers, and global leaderboards without even breaking a sweat.
The best way to learn from this roblox networking tutorial is to go open Studio right now and try to make a part change color for everyone when one person touches it. Once you see it work, everything else will start to click. Happy scripting!