Question 1

What's the difference between an application and a service in cloud computing?

Accepted Answer

An application is the end-user software people interact with (like a banking app or Netflix). A cloud service is a building block you use to run or support an application (like virtual servers, databases, storage, or managed app hosting). Applications are what you deliver to users; services are what you use to build and operate them.

Question 2

When should I build a cloud application instead of a traditional on-premises application?

Accepted Answer

Choose a cloud application approach when you need faster deployment, easier scaling for changing traffic, global reach, or managed services (like databases and monitoring) to reduce operational work. On-premises can make sense when you have strict data residency constraints, specialized hardware needs, or you already have significant data center investments and skills.

Question 3

How much does an application cost in the cloud?

Accepted Answer

There isn’t a single price for an “application.” Cost depends on what the application uses: compute (servers/containers), storage, databases, networking (data transfer), and managed services (like load balancers, monitoring, and authentication). Pricing is typically pay-as-you-go, so costs rise with usage (more users, more requests, more data stored and transferred).

Application

Definition

Real-World Example

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