cloud native
compound.compound. describing software or apps that are built specifically to run on the internet and use modern server technology. These programs are designed to be flexible and easy to update without stopping the whole system.
compound. relating to an approach in software development where applications are specifically designed to reside and operate in a cloud computing environment. Often used to describe systems that leverage microservices, containers, and dynamic orchestration to achieve scalability and resilience.
Our company is moving to a cloud native architecture.
By adopting a cloud native strategy, the startup was able to scale its user base from thousands to millions without buying physical servers.
The transition to cloud native infrastructure allows engineering teams to deploy updates independently through microservices, significantly reducing the risk of a single point of failure during high-traffic events.
A compound formed from cloud, in its computing sense, and native. The term gained prominence following the 2015 establishment of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used as a compound adjective before a noun; often appears without a hyphen in technical documentation.
the software is cloud-nativethe software is cloud nativeWhile often hyphenated when used before a noun, the hyphen is usually dropped when the term follows a linking verb in technical writing.
Last updated July 22, 2026