SaaS stands for "Software as a Service" and is a software distribution model in which a cloud provider hosts applications and makes them available to end users over the internet. In this model, software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted, which means that users do not have to install or maintain the software on their own computers. SaaS is considered to be part of cloud computing, along with several other "as a service" business models.

Some key features of SaaS include:

• Web-based access: SaaS apps are typically accessed by users of a web browser (a thin client) .
• Subscription-based pricing: SaaS is subscription-based, with pricing options that support both individual and multiple users.
• Centralized hosting: SaaS products are hosted on providers servers, which means theres no hardware to maintain, applications and data are always backed up, and updates are automatic.

SaaS is one of three main categories of cloud computing, alongside infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) . SaaS products range from personal entertainment, such as Netflix, to advanced IT tools, and are frequently marketed to both B2B and B2C users.