Parse, Inc. was a cloud-based platform that provided backend services for mobile and web applications. Founded in 2011, it aimed to simplify app development by offering features like data storage, user authentication, and push notifications. In 2013, Parse, Inc. was acquired by Facebook, which integrated its services into the Facebook ecosystem. However, in 2017, the platform was officially shut down, leading to the release of its open-source version, Parse Server, allowing developers to continue using its functionalities independently.