Cloud computing is using internet-based servers to store data and run applications instead of relying on your own computer or local servers. Rather than buying and maintaining physical hardware, businesses and individuals can rent computing power, storage, and software services from providers like Amazon, Google, or Microsoft. This means you can access your files, run programs, and scale resources up or down as needed, all through an internet connection. It's flexible, cost effective, and handles the technical maintenance for you, so you can focus on using the technology rather than managing it.