What is Cloud Computing?

import Callout from '@components/ui/Callout.astro'; ## The Big Idea Think of cloud like electricity: you **plug in** to get resources instead of running your own power plant. ## Types - **IaaS** – Rent VMs, networks, storage - **PaaS** – Deploy code without managing servers - **SaaS** – Use full apps in the browser <Callout type="tip" title="Tip">Start with SaaS you already use, then explore PaaS for projects.</Callout> ## Pros & Cons **Pros**: Scalability, pay-as-you-go, global reach. **Cons**: Cost surprises, vendor lock-in, shared responsibility. ## Next Steps - Compare providers - Try a free tier lab