Application Virtualization
Application virtualization is a technology that encapsulates software applications from the underlying operating system, allowing them to run in isolated, self-contained environments without requiring installation. It separates the application layer from the OS layer, enabling applications to be packaged, deployed, and managed independently. This approach improves compatibility, security, and portability across different systems.
Developers should learn application virtualization when building or deploying software that needs to run consistently across diverse environments, such as in enterprise settings or cloud deployments. It is particularly useful for legacy application modernization, reducing conflicts between applications, and simplifying deployment in containerized or virtualized infrastructures. Use cases include software testing, DevOps pipelines, and delivering applications to end-users without complex installation processes.