Cloud computing provides on-demand access to shared computing resources like servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics and more over the Internet. It delivers these resources as standardized services in three main forms: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Cloud computing evolved from grid computing and combines technologies like virtualization, utility computing, and automatic computing. It offers advantages like lower costs, flexibility, scalability and mobility compared to traditional computing but also has disadvantages around internet dependence and vendor lock-in.