Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model where providers offer platforms for developing, running, and managing applications without the complexity of building and maintaining underlying infrastructure. PaaS gives developers tools, databases, and runtime environments accessed over the internet. Municipalities considering custom application development may use PaaS to reduce infrastructure management needs while accessing development capabilities. PaaS sits between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS, basic computing resources) and Software as a Service (SaaS, complete applications). Cloud computing models like PaaS are increasingly relevant as municipalities modernize IT operations and consider alternatives to on-premises infrastructure.