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A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer system. It allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine, enabling users to run different applications and software that may not be compatible with their primary operating system. Virtual machines are commonly used for testing software, running legacy applications, and isolating potentially harmful applications from the rest of the system. They provide a cost-effective and efficient way to utilize hardware resources by partitioning a single physical machine into multiple virtual machines.