Cloud Computing
PaaS
Definition
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model where a third-party provider delivers hardware and software tools—usually those needed for application development—to users over the internet. A PaaS provider hosts the hardware and software on its own infrastructure.
Why It Matters
PaaS allows developers to focus on building and managing their applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure, such as operating systems, servers, or database management. This significantly speeds up the development and deployment process.
Contextual Example
A developer uses Heroku or Google App Engine to deploy a web application. They simply push their code, and the PaaS platform automatically handles the server provisioning, scaling, and operating system management.
Common Misunderstandings
- PaaS is an abstraction on top of IaaS.
- It is less flexible than IaaS but more flexible than SaaS.