Define "load balancing" in cloud computing.

Load balancing in cloud computing refers to the distribution of workloads across multiple computing resources, such as servers, network links, or databases. This process ensures that no single resource is overwhelmed with too much demand while others are underutilized, optimizing performance and ensuring high availability for applications and services.

By evenly distributing the workload, load balancing helps achieve efficient resource utilization, minimizes response time, and enhances the reliability and scalability of applications. It can automatically route incoming requests to the best-performing server or resource based on various algorithms, ensuring that all accessible resources are effectively utilized to handle user requests.

Load balancing is especially critical in cloud environments where resources can be dynamic and elastic. It enables applications to scale up or down based on current demand, making it a vital component of cloud architecture that contributes to a seamless user experience.