A cloud server is internet infrastructure that provides computing resources to users remotely. You can think of a cloud server as a private computer that you can set up and control in the same way as an on-premise computer, such as a laptop or desktop. This conceptual article outlines several key components of cloud server architecture, the difference between cloud servers and other cloud offerings, and how to determine which cloud offering is right for your website or web application.
Link: Cloud Servers: An Introduction
via http://www.digitalocean.com