Computing performed on geographically dispersed platforms connected via a network. Also referred to as distributed computing.

n. The use of a scalable distributed computing infrastructure that encompasses the key elements of today's networking technologies, such as systems and network management; the Internet and intranets; clients and servers; application programs; databases; transaction processing; and various operating systems and communication protocols.

Computing in which individuals do their own work on personal computers and use a telecommunications network to link to other devices.

This "open" system network provides universal connectivity, real-time collaboration, multimedia content, network services, and Web-based programs for secure commercial transactions to run on diverse platforms -- Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2. The system reduces for individuals the complexity of maintaining personal computers, relying instead on central servers and network computers.

The ability for clients to perform computations using code or instructions received via the Internet (or a smaller network).

A term analogous to client/server computing.

The term network computing first appears informally in the late 1970's to denote computers working together over a network, as opposed to stand-alone computing. It later came to have a specific technical meaning, denoting a graphical form of remote computing. It retains its more general meaning, however, in commercial IT circles.