Virtual Machine
Virtual Machine
A separate computer created inside one physical computer using software.
In Simple Terms
A virtual machine is another computer, simulated inside a single physical computer. It lets you run a separate system at the same time as your main one, even though the two wouldn't normally run together on one screen. For example, it's often used to temporarily run another system inside a Windows computer, just to test whether some software works properly.
Behind the Name
The name comes from combining two words: "virtual", meaning something simulated by software rather than physically real, and "machine", referring to a computer. Put together, they describe a computer built through software instead of physical hardware. That's also where the short form "VM" comes from.
Take a Closer Look!
A virtual machine is another computer, recreated inside a single physical computer using special software.
From the outside it looks like an ordinary application, but on the inside it can run its own operating system and apps, just like a real computer.
Simply put, it's like dividing one room into several smaller rooms with partitions.
This setup lets you build a "pretend" computer inside your own machine and run all kinds of systems on it for experiments.
With a virtual machine used for testing, you can freely try out different settings, and if something breaks, you can just delete that virtual machine and start over, so you can experiment safely without leaving any mess on the real system of your actual computer.
Virtual machines are also widely used in cloud services, where one large server on the internet is divided up and sold in pieces to many different customers.
Instead of buying many physical machines, a single powerful machine can be shared efficiently among lots of users.