Cloud computing glossary of terms
By: James M. Tobin, Edited by: Mitch Jacobson
Published: April 22, 2025
Cloud computing continues to grow rapidly and makes for a popular specialization among tech professionals.
No matter where you are in your career, it's important to have a strong grasp of essential cloud computing terms and concepts. Brush up on your knowledge with this cloud computing glossary.
Glossary of common cloud computing terms
Jump to a cloud computing term
- Application migration
- Cloud computing
- Cloud-native application
- Container
- Content delivery network
- Data migration
- Edge computing
- Elasticity
- Grid computing
- Hybrid cloud computing
- Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
- Internet of things (IoT)
- Load balancing
- Middleware
- Multicloud
- Multi-tenant cloud
- Platform as a service (PaaS)
- Private cloud
- Public cloud
- Relational database
- Replication
- Scaling
- Software as a service (SaaS)
- SPI model
- Virtualization
- Vertical cloud
- XaaS
The future of cloud computing
Since emerging in the mainstream of information technology in the mid-2000s, cloud computing has grown as organizations have adopted it rapidly. It has evolved as its tools and technologies have become more powerful and efficient.
Fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, serverless computing, and quantum computing regularly use cloud computing technologies. For computer science professionals, having experience with cloud computing can be a valuable and transferable skill.