What is the term for the limit on the number of instances that can be provisioned in a cloud service?

The term "instance quota" accurately describes the limit on the number of instances that can be provisioned in a cloud service. Quotas are put in place by cloud providers to manage resource allocation and prevent any single user from monopolizing resources, which ensures fair usage among all clients. Understanding instance quotas is crucial for cloud resource management since exceeding these quotas can lead to service interruptions or demand for additional resources being denied.

In contrast, other terms like "instance limit," "resource cap," and "service restriction" may convey a similar idea, but they are typically not the standard terminology used by cloud providers. "Instance limit" might seem similar, but it does not specifically refer to the governing aspect of how many instances one can provision, while "resource cap" could refer to different types of resources beyond just instances. "Service restriction" is even broader and could encompass various operational limitations beyond instance provisioning.

Therefore, recognizing instance quotas is essential for effective cloud resource planning and management, as they directly influence how many instances you can deploy and use within the bounds of your service agreement.