Virtualization is a technology that uses software to create virtual, or simulated, versions of physical IT resources like servers, storage, networks, and operating systems. By abstracting a single physical machine, virtualization enables multiple virtual environments, or virtual machines (VMs), to run simultaneously on it. This approach optimizes hardware usage, reduces costs, and enhances efficiency and scalability, forming a fundamental component of modern IT infrastructure and cloud computing.

• Abstraction Layer: Software called a hypervisor acts as an abstraction layer, connecting directly to the physical hardware.
• Resource Distribution: The hypervisor divides and allocates the physical machine's resources—such as processors, memory, and storage—among the virtual machines.
• Independent Virtual Machines: Each VM functions as a separate computer, with its own operating system and applications, all sharing the same underlying physical hardware.