Distributed computing is the practice of utilizing multiple computer systems in collaboration to carry out a task or computation. There are several synonyms that are often used to describe distributed computing, including parallel computing, cluster computing, grid computing, and cloud computing. Parallel computing involves using multiple processors within a single computer system to complete a task simultaneously. Cluster computing uses multiple computers working together as a single system to carry out computations. Grid computing involves groups of geographically dispersed computers working together over a network to perform a task. Cloud computing allows for the use of remote computing resources accessed over the internet to handle data management and processing tasks.