Virtual machines (or VMs) are software-based emulations of physical computers that run an operating system and applications just like a physical machine. Each VM operates in an isolated environment, allowing multiple VMs to run on a single physical server, sharing its resources such as CPU, memory, and storage.
VMs are created and managed by virtualization software, known as a hypervisor, which can be installed on the host machine. This technology allows for efficient resource utilization, scalability, and flexibility in IT environments. VMs can be easily created, modified, and deleted, making them ideal for development, testing, and deployment of applications. They also enhance disaster recovery and backup strategies by enabling easy snapshots and migrations between physical servers or data centers.