What does virtualisation mean?
Virtualisation is the computing practice of creating virtual versions of hardware, storage, networks, or complete computer environments. These virtual resources can be managed independently of the physical machines on which they run, making it possible to consolidate workloads, isolate systems, simplify administration, and create flexible development or testing environments. The idea is commonly associated with virtual machines, which can behave like separate computers while sharing the processor, memory, and storage of a single physical system. Virtualisation is therefore both a technical process and a way of organising digital resources more efficiently. Although the term is also used more broadly to describe the representation of physical things in virtual form, its dominant modern meaning belongs to computing. Recognising the concept clarifies how modern data centres operate and how software can be separated from the specific hardware on which it initially runs.
nounVirtualisation is the creation and management of virtual or logically independent versions of computing resources, such as servers, storage, networks, or desktop environments. It allows software and services to operate separately from, or in place of, particular physical hardware.
- The creation of virtual versions of computing resources or environments, abstracting software workloads from the underlying physical hardware.
"Server virtualisation enabled the company to consolidate its workloads onto fewer physical machines."
"Storage virtualisation combined several physical drives into one large, easily managed pool."
"Through virtualisation, the laboratory could test operating systems and applications without configuring separate computers for every task."
The standard plural is "virtualisations".
"Several virtualisations are running on the same cluster of physical servers."
Virtualisation lets one powerful computer become a workshop containing many independent virtual computers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of virtualisation
The word combines "virtual" with the suffix "-isation". "Virtual" comes through French from Latin virtualis, which was derived from vir, meaning "man" or "person"; its earliest sense was "capable of acting or being acted upon" before it came to mean "existing in appearance but not in fact". The compound developed as computing developed its ability to represent machines, devices, and operating environments in software. English forms associated with the same Latin root include "virtue" and "virtuality".
Related word forms
How virtualisation is actually used
This is a formal technical term used chiefly in computing and systems administration. Outside specialist contexts, it is usually replaced by simpler wording such as "creating a virtual version" or "running software virtually".
Easily confused with virtualisation
Virtualisation is the standard British spelling, while virtualization is the standard spelling in American English.