Cloud Glossary: Letter P

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P

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

A cloud computing model that provides a platform for developing, running, and managing applications without infrastructure complexity.

Packet

A formatted unit of data carried by a packet-switched network, containing both payload data and routing information.

Partition

A logical division of data or resources that enables parallel processing, improved performance, and better management.

Patch Management

The process of applying updates and fixes to software systems to address security vulnerabilities and bugs.

Payload

The actual data being transmitted in a message, packet, or API request, excluding headers and metadata.

Peak Load

The maximum amount of work or traffic a system experiences during its busiest periods, used for capacity planning.

Performance

The measure of how efficiently a system executes tasks, typically including speed, throughput, and resource utilization.

Persistent Storage

Storage that retains data even after the system or application that created it is shut down or terminated.

Pipeline

An automated sequence of processes that takes code from version control through building, testing, and deployment to production.

Platform

The underlying technology infrastructure that supports the development and execution of applications and services.

Pod

The smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes that can contain one or more containers sharing storage and network resources.

Point-in-Time Recovery

The ability to restore a database or system to a specific moment in time using transaction logs and backups.

Policy

A set of rules and guidelines that govern access, behavior, or configuration within cloud environments and systems.

Port

A numerical identifier for specific processes or network services on a computer, enabling targeted communication.

PostgreSQL

An open-source relational database system known for its advanced features, extensibility, and SQL compliance.

Private Cloud

A cloud computing environment dedicated to a single organization, providing greater control and security than public clouds.

Proxy

An intermediary server that forwards requests between clients and other servers, often providing additional functionality.

Public Cloud

Cloud computing services offered over the public internet by third-party providers, shared among multiple customers.

Parallel Processing

Simultaneous execution of multiple tasks or operations to improve performance and reduce overall processing time.

Parameter Store

A service for storing configuration data and secrets in a hierarchical format with access control and encryption.

Patch

A software update designed to fix bugs, security vulnerabilities, or add minor improvements to existing systems.

Peering

A network connection between two separate networks that allows them to exchange traffic directly.

Performance Monitoring

The continuous observation and measurement of system performance metrics to ensure optimal operation.

Persistent Volume

Storage resources in Kubernetes that exist independently of pods and retain data across pod restarts and rescheduling.

Ping

A network utility that tests connectivity between devices by sending ICMP echo request packets and measuring response time.

Platform Engineering

The discipline of designing and building toolchains and workflows that enable self-service capabilities for software engineering teams.

Polling

A technique where a client repeatedly checks a server for updates or new data at regular intervals.

Port Forwarding

Redirecting network traffic from one port to another, often used to access services running on different ports or hosts.

Preemptible Instance

A virtual machine instance that can be terminated by the cloud provider with short notice in exchange for lower pricing.

Primary Key

A unique identifier for records in a database table that ensures each row can be distinctly identified.

Private Subnet

A network segment that doesn't have direct internet access, typically used for backend services and databases.

Prometheus

An open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit designed for reliability and scalability in dynamic cloud environments.

Protocol

A set of rules and standards that govern how data is transmitted and received over a network.

Provisioning

The process of setting up and configuring computing resources, networks, and services to meet specific requirements.

Pub/Sub

A messaging pattern where publishers send messages to topics without knowing who will receive them, and subscribers receive messages from topics.

Push Notification

Messages sent from servers to user devices or applications to provide real-time updates and information.

Packet Loss

The failure of network packets to reach their destination, often caused by network congestion or hardware issues.

Partitioning

Dividing large datasets or databases into smaller, more manageable pieces to improve performance and scalability.

Password Policy

Rules and requirements that govern password creation, complexity, and management to enhance security.

Path-Based Routing

Directing network traffic to different backends based on the URL path in HTTP requests.

Performance Baseline

A reference point that establishes normal system performance levels for comparison and monitoring purposes.

Permission

Authorization that grants or denies access to specific resources or actions within a system or application.

Personal Access Token

A secure string of characters used for authentication that represents a user's identity for API access.

Phishing

A cybersecurity attack that attempts to trick users into revealing sensitive information by impersonating trusted entities.

Placement Group

A logical grouping of instances within a single Availability Zone to provide low network latency and high throughput.

Playbook

A documented set of procedures and automated scripts used for system administration, incident response, and troubleshooting.

Point of Presence (PoP)

A physical location where internet service providers connect to other networks, often housing CDN edge servers.

Polyglot

Using multiple programming languages or database technologies within a single application or system architecture.

Port Scanner

A security tool that probes network ports to identify open services and potential vulnerabilities on target systems.

PostgreSQL Extension

Additional functionality that can be installed in PostgreSQL databases to extend capabilities beyond core features.

Pre-signed URL

A URL that grants temporary access to private resources without requiring authentication credentials.

Primary Region

The main geographic region where an organization's primary resources and data are hosted and managed.

Priority Queue

A data structure where elements are processed based on priority levels rather than first-in-first-out order.

Process Isolation

Separating running processes to prevent them from interfering with each other or accessing unauthorized resources.

Production Environment

The live system where applications run and serve actual users, requiring high reliability and performance standards.

Profiling

The analysis of program performance to identify bottlenecks, memory usage patterns, and optimization opportunities.

Programming Language

A formal language comprising instructions that can be used to produce various kinds of machine code output.

Proof of Concept (PoC)

A demonstration to verify that certain ideas or methods have the potential for real-world application.

Provider

An organization that offers cloud computing services, infrastructure, or platforms to customers over the internet.

Provisioned Throughput

Pre-allocated performance capacity for databases or storage systems that guarantees specific read and write capabilities.

Public Subnet

A network segment with direct internet access, typically used for web servers and load balancers facing the internet.

Pull Request

A method of submitting contributions to software projects, allowing code review before changes are merged into the main codebase.

Push Model

A data distribution approach where the server proactively sends information to clients without waiting for requests.