IoT platform
A software layer that connects devices, ingests their data, manages them over time and exposes everything to applications through APIs.
An IoT platform sits between the devices in the field and the applications that use their data. On one side it terminates protocols such as MQTT, authenticates each IoT device and stores what it sends; on the other side it offers APIs, dashboards and integration points. Most platforms also bundle device management, rules and firmware update tooling, which is why they are often the first thing a team buys or builds.
The trade-off is scope. A hyperscaler service covers ingestion and identity well but leaves the application to you, while a vertical platform for, say, smart metering ships ready-made workflows but is harder to leave. Read IoT platforms explained for a way to compare them.
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