The term "cloud" can refer to different things depending on the context. Here are some definitions of the cloud from various sources:
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Cloud computing: Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over multiple locations, each of which is a server farm. Cloud computing is accessed over the internet and is a distributed collection of servers that host software and infrastructure.
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Internet: Simply put, the cloud is the Internet—more specifically, its all of the things you can access remotely over the Internet. When something is in the cloud, it means its stored on Internet servers instead of your computers hard drive.
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Global network of servers: The cloud is a metaphor for a global network of remote servers that operates as a single ecosystem, commonly associated with the Internet.
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On-demand delivery of IT resources: Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the Internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, you can access technology services, such as computing power, storage, and databases, on an as-needed basis from a cloud provider.
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Access to computing resources: Cloud computing is on-demand access, via the internet, to computing resources—applications, servers (physical servers and virtual servers), data storage, development tools, networking capabilities, and more—hosted at a remote data center managed by a cloud services provider (or CSP).
In summary, the cloud can refer to a variety of things, including cloud computing, the internet, a global network of servers, and on-demand access to computing resources.
