In the most general terms, a platform is a foundational framework, environment, or structure that supports the creation, delivery, or exchange of other things. Instead of being a standalone product that serves just one purpose, a platform acts as an underlying infrastructure that connects different users, tools, or systems.
Because the word is used across many different industries, its exact definition depends entirely on the context. 1. Technology & Computing
In IT and software engineering, a platform is the underlying hardware or software environment upon which applications are built and run.
Computing Platforms: Operating systems like Microsoft Windows or Linux act as the base layer that allows desktop software to interact with the computer’s physical processor.
Mobile Platforms: Systems like Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android provide the core infrastructure, security, and APIs that mobile developers need to build and deploy smartphone apps.
Cloud Platforms: Infrastructure giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure handle physical data storage and computing power, letting businesses host websites and complex enterprise applications completely online. 2. Business & Economics
In the modern economy, a “platform business model” shifts the focus from selling individual products to facilitating interactions between independent groups.
Platform Business Model explained…in under 100 words – Deloitte
Leave a Reply