Distributed computing refers to the study and design of systems where multiple computers work together to achieve a common goal. These systems are typically interconnected through a network and are capable of sharing resources and processing tasks in parallel. Distributed computing has become increasingly important with the rise of cloud computing and the need for scalable, fault-tolerant, and high-performance systems. Research in this area focuses on developing algorithms, protocols, and architectures to effectively coordinate and manage the distributed resources in a reliable and efficient manner. Key challenges include ensuring data consistency, scalability, fault-tolerance, and security in distributed systems.