What does the term 'cloud computing' refer to?

The term 'cloud computing' refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet. This includes a wide range of services such as storage, processing power, databases, networking, software, and analytics, all provided over the internet instead of through local servers or personal computers.

Cloud computing allows users to access these resources on-demand, making it scalable and flexible. For instance, businesses can store vast amounts of data without needing to invest in physical hardware and can pay for the services they use according to their needs. This model also supports collaboration and data sharing across different locations more efficiently than traditional methods.

In contrast, using physical servers for data storage, storing data on local drives, or installing software on individual devices reflects more traditional computing approaches that do not leverage the broader benefits of internet-based services.