What is cloud computing in simple terms?

Cloud computing, in simple terms, means using the internet to access computing resources like servers, storage, databases, and software instead of relying solely on your own computer’s hardware. Instead of installing and running programs directly on your personal computer, you connect to powerful computers (called "cloud servers") located in data centers around the world. These cloud servers do the heavy lifting, and you interact with them through the internet. The key difference between cloud computing and running programs on your own computer is where the work happens. When you run software on your own device, all the processing and storage rely on your computer’s capabilities. With cloud computing, the processing is done remotely on specialized hardware, which can be much more powerful and scalable. This means you can access large applications, store huge amounts of data, and use advanced services without needing high-end hardware locally. Plus, cloud computing offers flexibility—you can use resources on demand, pay only for what you use, and access your programs and data from anywhere with an internet connection.