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A virtual machine is a software-based emulation of a physical computer that operates as if it were a separate physical computer. It allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine, providing a way to run different applications or software on the same hardware.
Virtual machines are commonly used for testing software on multiple operating systems, running legacy applications, and creating isolated environments for development and testing purposes. They also provide a way to optimize resource utilization by running multiple virtual machines on a single physical server.
Popular virtual machine software includes VMware, VirtualBox, and Microsoft Hyper-V. These tools allow users to create, manage, and run virtual machines on their computer or server.