Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet, such as storage, servers, databases, software, and networking. Rather than storing and processing data on a local computer or server, cloud computing allows users to access these resources remotely through the internet.

Cloud computing services are generally provided by third-party providers who maintain and manage the necessary hardware and software infrastructure, allowing customers to scale their computing resources up or down as needed, without the need for significant upfront investment in physical hardware. Cloud computing also provides greater flexibility in terms of location and accessibility, as users can access resources from anywhere with an internet connection.

There are three primary types of cloud computing services: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). In IaaS, customers rent the physical hardware and infrastructure needed to run their applications and services. In PaaS, customers rent the underlying software and development tools needed to build and deploy their applications. In SaaS, customers rent fully functional applications that are accessed over the internet.