Ethereum is a public blockchain platform that enables users to create and execute decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts. It is powered by the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which is a decentralized, Turing-complete virtual machine that can execute scripts using an international network of public nodes.
Solidity is a programming language used to write smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It is a statically typed language, designed to target the EVM, and is used to create contracts for various applications such as voting, auctions, crowdfunding, and multi-signature wallets. It is designed to be human-readable, secure, and efficient.
For example, if you wanted to create a smart contract to facilitate a crowdfunding campaign, you would use Solidity to write the code for the contract. This code would then be deployed to the Ethereum blockchain and the contract would be executed according to the rules set within the code.