virtual
Meaning "simulated." Decades ago, the term was coined for "virtual memory," whereby a much larger amount of memory than the physical memory in the computer was simulated. A "virtual machine" simulates a server within a larger server, and this architecture runs in every datacenter worldwide (see virtual memory, virtual machine, server virtualization and cloud computing).
Online,
Digital, Internet and PhysicalToday, virtual can also mean "online" and, loosely, anything related to computers. It is a substitute for "online," "digital" and "Internet." Also "not physical," for example, "The company's product will be virtual for another year." As is evident by looking at the following list, virtual is a favorite term in the computer industry.
MAJOR VIRTUAL TERMS IN THIS ENCYCLOPEDIA virtual memory virtual machine virtual assistant virtual machine monitor desktop virtualization application virtualization network virtualization OS virtualization server virtualization storage virtualization virtual appliance Java Virtual Machine virtual private cloud virtual private server VPN (virtual private network) OTHER VIRTUAL TERMS IN THIS ENCYCLOPEDIA virtual 8086 Mode virtual access point virtual avatar virtual autopsy virtual circuit virtual community virtual companion virtual company virtual conference virtual connection virtual copy virtual currency virtual data room virtual database virtual datacenter (see datacenter container) virtual desktop services virtual device virtual device driver (see VxD) Virtual Device Interface (see VDI) virtual directory virtual disk virtual DOS machine virtual drive virtual environment Virtual Execution System (see VES) virtual folder virtual function virtual funds virtual greeting card (see e-card) virtual hard drive (see RAM disk) virtual headphones virtual host virtual hypertext virtual image virtual influencer (see VTuber) virtual instrument virtual IP address virtual ISP virtual keyboard virtual kidnapping virtual LAN virtual learning virtual library Virtual Machine Manager virtual mailbox virtual marketplace virtual mentoring virtual monitor virtual network virtual network computing (see VNC) virtual newscaster virtual patient Virtual PC Virtual PC for Mac virtual peripheral virtual phone number virtual printer virtual printer port virtual processor virtual radio station virtual real estate virtual reality virtual root virtual routing virtual screen virtual serial port virtual server virtual shopping virtual storage virtual store virtual supercomputer virtual surround sound (see 3D audio) virtual switch virtual tape virtual tape library virtual tape system virtual terminal virtual therapy virtual toolkit virtual tour virtual traffic lights virtual training virtual twin virtual voicemail virtual workgroup virtual world virtual YouTuber (see VTuber) virtualization virtualize AMD Virtualization (see AMD-V) VirtualWiFi full virtualization hardware virtualization I/O virtualization paravirtualization hardware virtual memory augmented virtuality (see augmented reality) computer automatic virtual environment (see CAVE) Global Virtual Private Network (see GVPN) Intel Virtualization Technology (see VT) K Virtual Machine (see KVM) Microsoft Virtual Machine Microsoft Virtual Server permanent virtual circuit (see PVC) switched virtual circuit (see SVC)
