Abstract
Quantum computing is one of the emerging fields that combines the principles of quantum mechanics with computer science. The focus of this chapter is to provide readers with a detailed introduction to quantum computing by describing the fundamental concepts that differentiate quantum computing from classical computing. Moreover, the chapter provides an overview of quantum gates followed by quantum algorithms. Various hardware and software platforms are also explored in the chapter to provide readers with information on available quantum hardware and software platforms for exploration and research purposes. Some of the important applications are also covered in the chapter, and the current state-of-the-art section depicts problems that have been successfully resolved upon utilization of quantum computing approaches and what are the benefits and shortcomings of such approaches. The chapter concludes with a summary and provides a point of view on future directions.