What is a virtual machine?

A virtual machine (VM) is a software emulation of physical computers, which means it mimics the hardware of a physical machine and allows an operating system and applications to run as if they were operating on a physical computer. This is accomplished through virtualization software, which creates an isolated environment where multiple VMs can run on a single physical host. Each virtual machine has its own virtual hardware, including CPU, memory, storage, and network interfaces, providing the same functionalities as a physical computer.

Virtual machines are widely used for various purposes such as software development, testing different operating systems, server consolidation, and running applications in isolated environments for better security. They allow for efficient resource utilization because multiple VMs can operate on a single hardware platform, making it easier to manage and scale computing resources.

In contrast, the other options describe different concepts that do not align with the definition of a virtual machine. Malware refers to harmful software designed to infiltrate and disrupt systems rather than emulating hardware. A cloud-based storage solution pertains to online data storage, which is unrelated to virtualization. A hardware device that accelerates computing typically refers to specialized hardware, such as GPUs or TPUs, which is also distinct from the concept of virtual machines.