Cloud-native refers to an approach to software development that is optimized for the cloud computing environment. This approach emphasizes the use of containerization, microservices, and other cloud-specific technologies and design patterns to create applications that can be easily deployed, scaled, and managed in the cloud. Cloud-native applications are typically designed to be loosely coupled, highly resilient, and easily scalable, and are often built using agile development practices and DevOps principles. By adopting a cloud-native approach, organizations can benefit from improved agility, faster time-to-market, and reduced costs, while also taking advantage of the scalability, flexibility, and high availability offered by the cloud.