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Swapping in computing primarily refers to the technique of using virtual memory to transfer contents between physical memory (RAM) and disk storage. This process enables a system to efficiently manage memory resources by temporarily moving inactive pages of data from RAM to disk, a method that helps to free up space in physical memory for other processes that are currently required.

When a program needs more memory than is physically available, the operating system uses swapping to ensure that the needed data can be loaded into RAM while moving less frequently used data to a storage device. This allows for the execution of larger applications than what the available physical memory would typically permit, facilitating efficient multitasking and an improved user experience.

The other options presented do not encapsulate the concept of swapping. Transmitting data across networks refers to communication protocols and data transfer processes rather than memory management. Backing up data to a cloud service is related to data storage and disaster recovery. While running multiple applications simultaneously does relate to memory usage, it does not specifically involve the swapping mechanism itself without reference to virtual memory management. Thus, the definition of swapping aligns directly with the use of virtual memory to manage system resources.