What does the acronym EC2 stand for?

The acronym EC2 stands for Elastic Compute Cloud. This service, provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS), allows users to rent virtual servers on-demand, making it a key component of the AWS cloud computing platform. The term "Elastic" in EC2 refers to the ability of the service to automatically scale resources up or down based on the user's needs, enabling flexible and cost-effective cloud-based computation.

Elastic Compute Cloud specifically targets computing power, allowing users to run applications, host websites, or develop software without having to invest in physical hardware. The service supports various instance types optimized for different use cases, providing versatility and efficiency.

In contrast, other options suggest services that do not align with EC2's purpose. For instance, concepts like "Elastic Cloud Container" or "Elastic Content Delivery" are not related to the core functionality of EC2, nor do they represent recognized AWS services. "Elastic Compute Cluster" also misrepresents the nature of EC2, as the term does not accurately describe the service’s focus on flexible computing resources rather than a cluster-based approach to computing. Thus, the correct interpretation of EC2 is rooted in its designation as the Elastic Compute Cloud.