TECH BASICS
SaaS
Software you rent as a subscription, not something you install once.
The simple version
SaaS (Software as a Service) is software that customers access online and pay for on a recurring basis — usually monthly or yearly — instead of buying it once and owning a copy forever.
For example
Tools like email, video calls, or project trackers that your school or a company pays for every month, and that live in a browser instead of being installed — that's SaaS.
Go deeper
SaaS reshaped how software companies make money: instead of one big upfront sale, they earn steady revenue over time, which is why so many roles in tech (like Customer Success) exist specifically to keep customers subscribed and happy.
Why it matters
SaaS is probably the single most common business model you'll see mentioned across tech career descriptions — it changes what a company measures and who it hires.