Cloud-based quantum computing allows users to remotely access quantum emulators, simulators, and processors via the internet, eliminating the need for specialized on-site hardware. This approach was pioneered by IBM's Quantum Experience in 2016, which provided the first publicly accessible cloud quantum processor, soon followed by Rigetti Computing's programmable cloud access in early 2017. Since the early 2020s, the field has seen significant growth, with major platforms such as Amazon Braket and Azure Quantum aggregating diverse quantum hardware (e.g., superconducting qubits, trapped ions) from providers like IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and IBM Quantum.
These platforms offer unified interfaces and support open-source SDKs (like Qiskit), dramatically lowering the barrier to entry for quantum experimentation and accelerating quantum education, algorithm research, and early-stage application development. Consequently, cloud-based quantum computing has become a vital tool across education, scientific research, and software prototyping, fostering innovation and broader public engagement with this cutting-edge technology.