Cloud computing involves the delivery of computing services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the Internet ("the cloud") to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. It typically encompasses three main service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Cloud computing enables users to access resources on-demand, scale as needed, and pay only for what they use, thereby reducing the need for upfront investment in hardware and infrastructure. Key benefits include increased agility, cost-efficiency, scalability, and accessibility, making it a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure and application development.