Platform (Computer Platform)

What is Platform?

A platform is the underlying technology that allows software to operate and interact with hardware and other software programs.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What is Platform?
2. Key Takeaways
3. Types of Computer Platforms
4. 20 Examples of Computer Platforms
5. How Do Platforms Work?
6. Components of Computer and Technology Platforms
7. Cross-Platform Software and Multi-Platform Software
8. The Bottom Line
9. FAQs
10. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What is Platform?
2. Key Takeaways
3. Types of Computer Platforms
Show Full Guide
4. 20 Examples of Computer Platforms
5. How Do Platforms Work?
6. Components of Computer and Technology Platforms
7. Cross-Platform Software and Multi-Platform Software
8. The Bottom Line
9. FAQs
10. References

Types of Computer Platforms

In the 1990s, most operating systems (OSes) and software applications were compiled into machine code that was specific to a target central processing unit (CPU) instruction set.

If you went into a store to buy new software, you needed to buy a version designed for the  platform you were going to install the software on.

Today, abstraction layers can allow the same software to run on multiple processor architectures and operating systems, and the specific meaning of platform will depend on the context in which the term is used.

In discussions about mobile devices, for example, the platform’s meaning is likely to be traditional and refer to a specific combination of hardware and operating systems like iOS or Android.

In discussions about cloud computing, however, the meaning of platform is likely to be broader and refer to a comprehensive ecosystem of related services and tools like Office 365.

To avoid ambiguity and make the context as clear as possible, vendors and marketers will often describe technology platforms by their primary focus and computer platforms by their operating system.

20 Examples of Computer Platforms

Here are some technology platform examples categorized by their primary functions:

• Cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offer virtualized computing resources and services on-demand.
• International transfer platforms like Airwallex and Remitly allow people to transfer funds from one country to another.
• Software development platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft .NET provide services and tools for building other software on top of them.
• Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari provide platforms for running web apps and services.
• Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok facilitate content sharing and social
• Content streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu are used to deliver multimedia content.
• Containerization platforms like Docker and Kubernetes are lightweight and share the host OS kernel to improve efficiency and reduce overhead compared to traditional virtual machines.
• E-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay enable people to sell and buy goods online.
• Financial platforms like Robinhood and Wealthfront offer investment and wealth management tools to supplement traditional accounting software apps.
• Cloud gaming platforms like Amazon Luna and NVIDIA GeForce NOW allow end users to access and play video games.
• SQL and NoSQL Database platforms like MySQL and MongoDB provide the essential tools and functionalities for storing, organizing, querying, and manipulating data efficiently and securely.
• Email marketing platforms like help businesses craft engaging marketing campaigns and increase lead generation.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms like Amazon SageMake and PyTorch facilitate the development, deployment, and management of AI applications and models.
• Internet of Things (IoT) platforms like Blynk and OpenRemote allow users to connect, manage, monitor, and control IoT devices.
• Storage platforms like Amazon S3 and Google Drive provide the infrastructure and services for storing, managing, and accessing data.
• Automated crypto trading platforms like Dash2Trade and Coinrule use AI-powered trading bots to take advantage of new financial opportunities as quickly as possible.
• Mobile platforms like Android and iOS enable the development, deployment, and execution of native mobile applications on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
• Low-code and no-code platforms allow businesses and “citizen developers” with varying skill sets to quickly create software applications.
• Analytics platforms like Tableau and Microsoft Power BI can be used to transform raw data into actionable insights.
• Crypto lending platforms like Arch and Binance offer investors opportunities to earn interest on their digital assets or access loans using crypto as collateral.

How Do Platforms Work?

Every digital platform relies on communication protocols that allow hardware and software components to interact.

Many platforms also use application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow external applications or services to access a platform’s functions and data.

Components of Computer and Technology Platforms

The specific protocols and APIs a computer or technology platform uses will depend on the platform’s purpose, its architecture, and the types of interactions it needs to support.

Different platforms necessitate different hardware, software, infrastructure, and communication components.

For example, a gaming platform requires high-performance GPUs to render complex graphics and enable physics simulations to run smoothly. In contrast, an e-commerce platform requires components that facilitate online transactions, inventory management, and customer relationship management.

Cross-Platform Software and Multi-Platform Software

In everyday conversation and marketing content, cross-platform software and multi-platform software are often used as synonyms to describe software that can be run on more than one operating system.

Software developers often differentiate between the two terms, however. In programming, cross-platform software will have one code base that can work on more than one platform, and multi-platform software may have separate codebases or require significant changes for each target platform.

The Bottom Line

In the early days of personal computing, the definition of platform was narrow, and described software written for a specific combination of hardware and operating system.

Today, the meaning of platform has expanded to include technology stacks that provide a foundation for developing, deploying, and managing other applications or services locally or in the cloud.

FAQs