Technology Fundamentals
Virtual Machine
Definition
A Virtual Machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer. It has its own virtual CPU, memory, hard drive, and network interface, and runs its own operating system and applications.
Why It Matters
VMs allow you to run multiple, isolated operating systems on a single physical server. This is the foundation of cloud computing and is incredibly useful for testing software on different OSes, isolating applications for security, and maximizing the use of hardware.
Contextual Example
A developer can run a Windows VM on their Mac computer to test how their website looks and functions in the Edge browser, without needing to own a separate Windows PC.
Common Misunderstandings
- VMs are created and managed by a piece of software called a "hypervisor".
- Containers are a lighter-weight alternative to VMs that share the host OS kernel instead of virtualizing the entire hardware stack.