What is the cloud?: Your modern guide

Over the past decade, the term “the cloud” has shown up everywhere—at work, on our phones, in advertisements, and in nearly every conversation about modern technology. We use it when we upload photos, save documents, watch our favorite shows, or sign into an online service. And yet, despite how common the term has become, many people still wonder what it actually means. For something so widely used, the cloud can feel surprisingly abstract.