Definition
A virtual machine VM is a software based emulation of a physical computer, allowing multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single hardware system. This is achieved through a hypervisor, a layer of software that manages and allocates the host machine's resources to each VM. VMs are crucial for efficient resource utilization, enabling organizations to deploy and manage applications more flexibly and cost effectively. For instance, a developer might use a VM to test software on different operating systems without needing multiple physical machines. Unlike a container, which shares the host OS kernel, a VM includes its own complete operating system. Understanding VMs is essential for cloud computing certifications like AWS SAA and CCSP.